CEO a repeat buyer of shares near current prices.On June 14th, CEO Sean Downes picked up 3,000 shares of his company, Universal Insurance (UVE). But this isn’t his first buy in recent weeks. On June 11th, he picked up 2,500 shares. And on May 28th, he picked up 10,000 shares, all right around current prices. Overall, he has increased his stake slightly to 1.43 million shares. Universal Insurance is an integrated holding company that offers residential homeowner’s insurance, renter’s fire, as well as other policies as well. With a focus on high return on equity and solid underwritin...

Traders make big bet on continued decline in natural gas. A large bet is being made that shares ofCNX Resources (CNX) will fall at least 30 percent between now and January. On Monday, over 44,000 $5 January 2020 put options had been traded, against an open interest of 100 options. 0This bet, with a $5 strike against a share price of about $7.20, indicates a 31 percent downside in the next six months. The trade could certainly play out profitably for traders. As a natural gas explorer and producer, the current months are the weak season for demand, and recent winters have been m...

Two insiders buy at clothing retailer.On June 13th, two insiders picked up shares atChico’s FAS (CHS). These buyers include SVP & General Counsel Gregory Baker, who picked up 2,000 shares, paying nearly $7,200 to do so. Director Kimberly Tofalli bought 14,000 shares, shelling out just under $51,000. An executive and director buy around the same time is a solid sign that shares are undervalued. It’s as stronger buy signal than just one purchase. Chico’s is a specialty retailer of women’s private branded clothing and accessories. It does business under Chico’s, White House Black Mar...

Insiders buying at hard-hit exploration company. On June 12th, multiple insiders picked up shares atEncana Energy Corp (ECA). These buyers include CEO Douglas Suttles, who bought 5,000 shares, paying over $24,000. CFO Corey Code bought 10,000 shares, paying nearly $50,000. And David Hill, EVP of Exploration, bought 10,000 shares as well. All told, these insider put over $125,000 of their own money to work in shares. Encana is a smaller player in the industry, but it’s doing just well in today’s hectic environment for oil. Last year, Encana bought out competitorNewfield Exploration...

Big option buy suggests huge upside for tech firm.Could shares of data storage companyWestern Digital (WDC) rally 50 percent between now and January 2020? One trader is betting so. On Thursday, over 16,600 options had traded on a January 2020 $55 call for the company. With shares trading around $36.50, that implies a 50 percent upside in shares in the next six months. The option contract previously had around 1,500 open contracts, so this move represents a ten-fold surge in volume. That’s unusual for an option so far out-of-the-money. Western Digital shares trade near 52-week lows, wi...

Two insiders make a multi-million dollar buy in the oil giant. Two corporate insiders have just bought in over $2 million in shares ofOccidental Petroleum (OXY). On June 10, CEO Vicki Hollub bought 37,460 shares, a commitment of over $1.8 million. SVP Marcia Backus bought 10,000 shares, putting down over $480,000. The buys come after shares have slid from $54 in the past month to $47 in recent days. Oil prices have been weak, particularly for this time of year when the summer driving season boosts demand for gasoline. As a result of this seasonal aberration, energy stocks have b...

Hedge fund titan makes huge bet on the casino operator. One director just made a $75 million bet on the future of gambling. On June 7, director Keith Meister bought 2.8 million shares ofMGM Resorts International (MGM). Meister, an activist hedge fund manager at Corvex Management, already owns over 18 million shares. The casino company saw shares rise last week along with the overall market, but around $27 per share, shares are still below their 52-week high of $32. Casino stocks are somewhat cyclical, tending to expand with the economy. They tend to contract during recessions, ...

Multiple directors buy at the regional retail firm. Three different directors have been buying shares recently in regional retail outletConn’s (CONN). Director James Haworth picked up 2,240 shares, shelling out nearly $40,000 to do so. Director Bob Martin picked up 26,600 shares, for a commitment of over $453,000. And director William Saunders bought 10,000 shares even, paying nearly $180,000. This kind of cluster of buys by directors is a solid sign. With only 125 locations in the South and Western United States, Conn’s operates as a specialty retailer of consumer goods and se...

Big bet that copper mining giant will move at least 10 percent higher by early July. At least one trader is betting on a 10 percent pop inFreeport McMoRan (FCX) in the next month. On Thursday, nearly 5,900 contracts traded on July 5th $11 calls. With shares just over $10, they would need to rally nearly $1, or about 10 percent, for these calls to expire in-the-money. With a prior open interest of 102 in the contract before the trade, this is a big move. As a copper producer, Freeport is best-in-class. However, copper prices have been weak year-to-date, amidst trade war fears. ...