Four Stocks the Insiders Are Buying Right Now: HLF, SHLD, CI, BSFT, SWC

March 12, 2013, 09:04 am ET, BY Billy- Contributor| Editor: Thomas H. Kee Jr. (Follow on LinkedIn)

For traders tracking the purchases of insiders, the action has been heating up in recent days. Some of the companies caught up in the activity are not unfamiliar with the spotlight while others have flown under the radar. Here are four stocks we are watching at Stock Traders Daily that have garnered a great deal of insider interest.

Icahn Loads Up

Carl Icahn is taking no prisoners as he wages war against Bill Ackman in their battle of the future direction of Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF). Last week, the activist investor picked up more than $82.7 million worth of the company’s stock. The purchases ranged in price from $40.66 to $41.08 per share. Icahn now owns approximately 15.6% of the nutritional products company.

In this instance, I believe traders are safe in following Icahn into the fray. The shock value of Ackman’s short bet has long since worn off. The stock has already rallied 26.0% this year and appears to be headed higher. I don’t see a lot of immediate downside risk to this stock although tight stops would still be advised.

Another company that limped to the finish line in 2012 is Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:SHLD). The stock has also been turning the tables on short sellers in 2013 as it has already risen 20.1% since the start of the year. Last week, Eddie Lampert, CEO, picked up $55 million worth of the company’s stock. Sears still appears to be dead money however. Analysts are expecting the company to post sizable losses this year and next. No reason to get involved with this one.

Honorable Mentions

A couple of smaller bets that are worthy of note are those that have been made on BroadSoft (NASDAQ:BSFT) and Stillwater Mining Company (NYSE:SWC).

The purchase by a director on Tuesday for $232,000 worth of BSFT shares is particularly compelling in that those closest to the company may believe that the recent selloff following the issuance of weak FY 2013 guidance. Even with this stock’s 5.7% advance on Friday, it still has more room to run.

On Thursday, a director for Stillwater bought close to $65,000 worth of the company’s stock at a purchase price of $12.99 per share. The company is coming off of a respectable Q4, but this appears to be more of a long term play. Investments in its Montana development projects are expected to result in top line gains over the next several years. The company also stands to benefit from an uptick in palladium and platinum prices over a similar timeframe.

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