Separate signal from noise

Insider trading isn't as simple as "sell means bearish, buy means bullish." Sales after option exercises, tax arrangements, and pre-set trading plans are often just noise. What's worth watching is who is buying, how much, whether several insiders are moving in the same direction — and how big the trade is relative to their existing stake.

Insider Trading turns raw filings into usable context. Is a CEO committing meaningful capital, or is a director making a token purchase? Is this a one-off trade, or are several insiders buying within the same month?

Start with the buyer, then the trade

The same $1 million purchase means different things coming from a CEO, a CFO, an independent director, or a mid-level executive. The closer the role sits to the company's actual operations and capital allocation, the more weight a voluntary purchase usually carries — while routine sales and small token trades get discounted.

  • Identify the key playersPrioritize voluntary open-market trades by CEOs, CFOs, founders, directors, and major shareholders.
  • Watch for cluster tradesMultiple insiders buying in the same direction within a short window usually says more than a single isolated trade.
  • Filter out routine activitySeparate 10b5-1 plans, option exercises, and tax-driven sales from voluntary open-market transactions that may deserve closer review.

Put insider activity in context

  1. 01

    Transaction summary

    Starts with who traded, in which direction, for how much, at what price, and when, so you can see the disclosure at a glance.

  2. 02

    Role context

    Explains the person's relationship to the company and their trading history, so routine activity is not mistaken for a strong signal.

  3. 03

    Signal assessment

    Reviews role, transaction size, change in holdings, cluster activity, and timing to assess how much weight the disclosure may deserve.

  4. 04

    Context check

    Checks for pre-set trading plans, option exercises, tax arrangements, and other factors that may explain the transaction.

When to use it

Use it to see whether insiders are buying after a selloff, whether several executives are moving in the same direction, or whether a major shareholder is steadily reducing exposure.

It won't treat insider trades as a universal buy-or-sell signal. Its job is to help you decide whether a lead deserves a full research workup — or is just noise that looks busier than it really is.

Based solely on publicly disclosed insider filings. For research reference only — not investment advice.