Top Executives Bet Big on Their Own Companies Amid Market Optimism
Insider Purchases Often Signal Undervaluation—Here Are Five Stocks Where Executives Are Buying
Insider buying—known as directors' dealings—is frequently seen as a sign that management believes their company's shares are undervalued. Over the past few days, notable purchases have been made in five stocks in particular.
Heidelberg Materials A major transaction took place at German building materials giant Heidelberg Materials (ISIN: DE0006047004). On Wednesday, Spohn Cement Beteiligungen GmbH—an investment vehicle for the Merckle family—acquired €25.77 million worth of shares. This represents an increase in the stake held by the Merckle entrepreneurial dynasty, with billionaire Ludwig Merckle already controlling over 25% of Heidelberg Materials' voting rights through Spohn Cement. Merckle also serves on the company's supervisory board.
The insider purchase was executed at €161.34 per share; the stock currently trades at €166. Between summer 2024 and late January 2026, the share price surged spectacularly from €87 to €239 before correcting sharply, dropping to €161 by March 13—the same day René Aldach, a board member, bought shares worth over €16,000. The cluster of insider buys may indicate that the stock has found a floor and a rebound could be imminent. Among the 24 analysts tracked by Bloomberg, 16 recommend buy, five advise hold, and three suggest sell. The average price target stands at €238.27, implying a 43% upside. Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock by two notches on Wednesday—from underweight to overweight—while maintaining its €219 target. JPMorgan, meanwhile, reiterated its overweight rating on Thursday with a €250 target and included the stock on its Analyst Focus List.
Daimler Truck At German commercial vehicle manufacturer Daimler Truck (ISIN: DE000DTR0CK8), six board members made purchases on March 13 at around €43 per share. These transactions were conducted under a phantom share plan—a compensation model where employees participate financially in the company's performance (such as through appreciation or exit proceeds) without holding actual shares or voting rights. Any payouts are taxed as income.
The stock currently trades at €40.30. Performance over the past year—and even the past five years—has been lackluster. Of the 20 analysts covered by Bloomberg, 12 rate it a buy, six a hold, and two a sell, with an average target of €45.56 (a 13.2% upside). Most recently, DZ Bank raised its fair value estimate for Daimler Truck from €40 to €52 on Monday—now the highest target—and upgraded the stock from hold to buy. Analyst Holger Schmidt cited stronger-than-expected order intake, along with an anticipated recovery in North American and European markets in 2026 and a rebound in U.S. Class 8 truck orders, as encouraging signs.
SoFi Technologies In the U.S., financial technology firm SoFi Technologies (ISIN: US83406F1021) saw its CEO, Anthony Noto, purchase roughly $500,000 worth of shares (28,900 at $17.32 each) on March 17—just days after a scathing short-seller report. The move was widely interpreted as a direct vote of confidence in the stock. On March 2, he had invested $1 million. Notably, on February 6, Steven Jay Freiberg, the board's vice chairman, sold $1.91 million worth of shares.
Since mid-November, SoFi's stock has plunged from $32 to $17, erasing gains from a threefold rally in the prior six months. Analyst opinions are sharply divided: Of the 26 tracked by Bloomberg, nine say buy, eleven hold, and six sell. The average target of $25.50 suggests a 48.4% upside.
Loar Holdings
Significant insider buying has been reported at Loar Holdings (ISIN: US53947R1059): CEO Charles Dirkson purchased shares worth nearly $3 million between March 10 and 12. Board member and co-owner Raja Bobbili also acquired 50,000 shares on March 12, totaling $3.18 million. Two other executives were likewise active buyers.
Loar Holdings specializes in the development, manufacturing, and sale of niche components for the aerospace and defense industries. The stock has seen modest performance and currently trades at $66. All six analysts tracked by Bloomberg rate it a "Buy," projecting upside potential of 39%, with a target price of $91.60.
Portillo's Stock Activity
Meanwhile, Lee Eugene I Jr., a director at Portillo's (ISIN: US73642K1060), recently invested $1.48 million in the company's shares. Portillo's is a fast-casual restaurant chain in the U.S. The stock has trended downward in recent years and now stands at $5.50. Of the ten Bloomberg-listed analysts, only four recommend "Buy," while six advise "Hold." The average price target is $6.55.
