Institutions: US corporate executives are selling stocks at near-record speed

Odaily News: US corporate executives are selling stocks at the second-fastest pace in over 20 years. For some investors, this is a classic warning signal, as it indicates that those most familiar with business operations are cautious about the current market. According to data from EPFR Global Market Intelligence, in the first half of 2026, corporate insiders sold a total of $77.6 billion worth of stocks, a 20% increase compared to the same period last year.

Over the past two decades, only the sell-off in 2021 was larger, when the market was fueled by massive stimulus funds during the pandemic. EPFR analyst Winston Chua and others wrote in a report: "Insider trading behavior suggests that at current valuation levels, corporate executives have no strong intention to increase their stock holdings."

Additionally, insider buying activity remains subdued. In the first half of 2026, they purchased only $6.9 billion worth of company stock, barely above the $6.7 billion recorded in the same period last year, which was the lowest level in seven years. (Jinshi)