Insiders at three companies have been purchasing shares of their own stock in recent months, with transactions occurring through December 2025. The buying involves multiple executives at each firm rather than isolated one-time purchases.
At Nike Inc., two directors and Chief Executive Officer Elliott Hill bought NKE stock. The company has faced challenges including lack of innovation, soft demand in China, and increased competition. Consumer discretionary stocks performed poorly in 2025, but NKE showed rally signs after its December earnings report. Analysts have a consensus price target of $75.32, approximately 15% above the January 8 closing price.
AutoZone Inc. saw share purchases by two directors and its chief financial officer in December 2025, totaling about 350 shares. The stock had given up nearly all its gains in the final three months of 2025 and trades about 30% below its consensus price target. The company missed revenue and earnings forecasts for two consecutive quarters, partly due to tariff costs it has absorbed.
SmartRent Inc. CEO Frank Martell made eight separate purchases of SMRT stock in December 2025, buying between 18,432 and 124,086 shares per transaction. This continues buying activity Martell began in August 2025. The small-cap stock traded at $1.84 per share on January 8, 2026. SmartRent's year-over-year revenue and earnings declined in 2025 as it shifted from hardware sales to software-as-a-service revenue, which currently accounts for about 35% of total revenue but represents the highest percentage of earnings.
Insider buying is typically viewed as a signal that executives believe their company's stock is undervalued. While such activity shouldn't be the sole reason for investment decisions, the repeated purchases by multiple insiders at these companies have drawn attention. Each company is navigating operational changes or market skepticism during this period.