10 min read

Insider Buying Tracker: SEC Form 4 Filings (2026)

Q: What is an Insider Conviction Score?

An Insider Conviction Score is a composite metric (0-100) that evaluates the strength of insider buying signals for a given stock. It factors in the number of unique insiders buying, total dollar value of purchases, the seniority of buyers (CEO/CFO carry more weight than Directors), and whether multiple insiders bought within a short time window (cluster buying). Higher scores suggest stronger insider confidence in the company's prospects.

Monitor the latest open-market stock purchases by CEOs, CFOs, and Directors across the S&P 500. See where corporate insiders are putting their own money — and discover which stocks have the highest insider conviction.

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Key Insights

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Insider Conviction Score — Top 10 Stocks

Our proprietary conviction score (0–100) ranks stocks by the strength of insider buying signals. It factors in the number of unique buyers, total dollar volume, executive seniority, and cluster buying patterns.

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Follow the Money — Company Lookup

Select any company to see all insider transactions, a timeline of purchases, and its conviction score breakdown.

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Insider Buying Activity Timeline

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Sector Heatmap — Where the Money Is Flowing

Block size = number of transactions. Color intensity = buying volume. Hover for details.

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All Insider Transactions

Date ▼	Company	Insider	Role	Shares	Avg Price	Total Value

Understanding Insider Buying Signals

Insider buying is widely regarded as one of the most reliable bullish indicators in equity markets. When executives risk their own capital on open-market purchases, it signals genuine confidence in their company's future. Academic studies by Lakonishok & Lee (2001) found that companies with significant insider buying outperformed the market by 4-7% annually over the following 12 months.

Our Insider Conviction Score synthesizes multiple signals — purchase volume, buyer seniority, and clustering patterns — into a single actionable metric. Stocks scoring above 70 have historically demonstrated the strongest forward returns, particularly when driven by C-suite cluster buying.

The most compelling signal is cluster buying: when three or more insiders purchase shares within a two-week window, it suggests broad internal confidence rather than one individual's speculation. This tracker automatically identifies cluster patterns across all S&P 500 insider filings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is insider buying and why does it matter?

Insider buying occurs when officers, directors, or key executives purchase stock in their own company on the open market. Legendary investor Peter Lynch famously noted that while insiders might sell their stock for many reasons, they usually only buy it for one: they think the price is going to go up.

What is an SEC Form 4 filing?

A Form 4 is a document that must be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) whenever there is a material change in the holdings of company insiders. It must be filed within two business days following the transaction date.

Which corporate insiders are the most important to track?

While all insider buying is notable, purchases by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) are generally considered the strongest signals, as these individuals have the most comprehensive view of the company's financial health and future prospects.

What is a cluster buy in stock trading?

A cluster buy happens when three or more insiders at the same company purchase shares on the open market within a short time frame (typically within a few weeks). This is often viewed as a stronger bullish signal than a single isolated purchase.

How quickly is insider trading data reported?

According to SEC rules, corporate insiders must file a Form 4 within two business days of executing a trade. This means the data you see is typically on a 48-hour delay from the actual transaction date.

What is an Insider Conviction Score?

Our Insider Conviction Score is a composite metric (0–100) that evaluates the strength of insider buying signals for a given stock. It factors in the number of unique insiders buying, total dollar value of purchases, the seniority of buyers, and whether multiple insiders bought within a short time window (cluster buying). Higher scores suggest stronger insider confidence.

What does cluster buying indicate about a stock?

Cluster buying — when three or more insiders at the same company buy shares within a two-week window — is historically one of the most bullish insider signals. Academic research shows that stocks with cluster insider buying tend to outperform the market over the following 6-12 months, as it suggests broad internal confidence rather than one individual's opinion.

Methodology & Data Sources

This tracker aggregates SEC Form 4 filings for open-market purchases by corporate insiders (officers and directors) across the constituents of the S&P 500 index. Data is sourced via Yahoo Finance's SEC filing feeds. We specifically filter for non-derivative "Purchase" transactions and exclude routine option exercises or automatic dividend reinvestments to highlight discretionary buys where insiders are putting new capital at risk.