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Insiders Are Jumping Into These 3 Stocks

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Market participants closely follow insider activity, as the transactions can reflect current sentiment surrounding the trajectory of the business. Of course, investors also typically get a confidence boost upon seeing an insider swoop in for a buy.

Insiders are defined as a company's officers, directors, or someone controlling at least 10% of a company's equity securities. To little surprise, many strict rules apply to insiders. And they typically have a holding horizon longer than most, a critical aspect to be aware of.

As of late, the insiders of several companies, including American Water Works (AWK - Free Report) , AES (AES - Free Report) , and Intel (INTC - Free Report) , have acquired shares. What did they see? Let’s take a closer look.

American Water Works

American Water Works provides essential water services to millions of customers. A director recently purchased roughly 3800 shares, with the transaction totaling nearly $500k.

For those with an appetite for income, AWK shares have that covered, currently yielding a solid 2.2% annually with a payout ratio sitting at 59% of the company’s earnings. Impressively, the company boasts a 10% five-year annualized dividend growth rate.

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Shares recently got a boost following better-than-expected quarterly results, as we can see illustrated below. Regarding the release, AWK posted a 7% beat relative to the Zacks Consensus EPS Estimate and reported revenue 6% ahead of expectations.

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Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

American Water Works is forecasted to expand its top and bottom line steadily, with estimates for its current year (FY23) suggesting 7% earnings growth on 8% higher revenues. Peeking ahead, estimates for FY24 reflect a 6% uptick in earnings paired with a 3% sales bump.

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Intel

Semiconductor giant Intel has enjoyed positive earnings estimate revisions across the board, landing the stock into a favorable Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The CEO of Intel, Patrick Gelsinger, recently made a big splash, acquiring roughly 6800 shares at a total transaction value of $250k.

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The company has been consistently posting robust results, exceeding the Zacks Consensus EPS Estimate by an average of 130% across its last four quarters. Just in its latest print, the company posted a 95% EPS beat and posted revenue 5% ahead of the consensus expectation.

Intel’s top line appears to be finally stabilizing.

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AES

AES, a current Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), is a diversified power generation and utility company. The CEO, Andres Gluski, recently purchased 50k shares, with the transaction totaling just over $800k.

Like AWK, AES shares reward investors with an annual dividend that currently yields a sizable 4.1%. And the company has displayed a commitment to increasingly rewarding shareholders, carrying a 5% five-year annualized dividend growth rate.

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AES shares have recently busted through their 50-day simple moving average, reflecting near-term positive momentum. Investors would likely benefit by waiting to see if shares can continue trading above this level, which would reflect continued bullishness.

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Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Bottom Line

It’s easy to understand why investors closely follow insider activity, as it can provide a snapshot of current sentiment surrounding a company's future.

An insider buy is undoubtedly a positive, whereas a sell could carry negative undertones in certain situations.

And for those seeking stocks insiders are diving into, all three above – American Water Works (AWK - Free Report) , AES (AES - Free Report) , and Intel (INTC - Free Report) – fit the criteria nicely.


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