Four Stocks the Insiders Like – VCLK, AKAM, COLM, CME

August 17, 2010, 10:46 am ET, BY Billy- Contributor| Editor: Thomas H. Kee Jr. (Follow on LinkedIn)

During the past few trading sessions, the market has seen several large insider purchases in highly visible companies. These transactions do not necessarily constitute ‘Buy’ recommendations, but they do point to stocks that merit a closer look. With that being said, here are four stocks the insiders like right now.

Just A Click Away

Last week, three separate directors for ValueClick (Nasdaq: VCLK) purchased a combined $1.1 million worth of company stock. The purchase prices ranged from $9.95 to $10.00 per share. These transactions came less than a week after the company announced its Q2 results.

In Q2, ValueClick’s EPS from continuing operations rose a penny to $0.15 from $0.14 in the year-ago quarter. VCLK shares have increased 6.0% so far this year. Earlier this month, ValueClick bought out Investopedia.com and management has indicated that it continues to be on the lookout for additional acquisition opportunities. Traders who believe these inside purchases make for an ideal trading opportunity are encouraged to check out our free VCLK trading report for an in-depth technical analysis.

Last Wednesday, a director for Akamai Technologies (Nasdaq: AKAM) took a big swing of his own. Peter Kight purchased $2.0 million worth of AKAM shares at $41.70 per share. The stock has already run up 73.2% year-to-date. Traders who are of the opinion that this upswing is far from over are advised to review our free AKAM trading report for assistance in implementing proper risk controls when trading this stock.

The Great Outdoors

Late last week, a director for Columbia Sportswear (Nasdaq: COLM) made a series of purchases that totaled more than $1.4 million worth of Columbia stock. The purchase prices ranged from $48.85 to $49.56 per share. Shares of COLM have ascended 23.5% since the beginning of the year.

In Q2, Columbia’s net sales bounced back to the tune of 23.7% when compared to the prior year quarter. The company did check in with a net loss of $0.31 per share, but the company experienced double-digit growth in every major category on a year-over-year basis. Historically, Columbia Sportswear’s Q2 has accounted for only 15% of annual net sales. Traders who think that this stock is on the verge of a breakout can read our free COLM trading report for further insight.

One other insider transaction worth noting took place on Thursday when the chairman of the board for CME Group (NYSE: CME) dropped $250,000 on a purchase of CME shares. The transaction occurred at a price of $250.32 per share. The stock is down 26.6% on the year. Traders who view this depreciation as a bargain opportunity can take a look at our free CME trading report that contains technical guidance that will prove to be beneficial in coming to a final decision.  

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