Portfolio managers at Aktia and S-Pank have stated that the recent trades by the founders of Amazon and Meta, who sold their shares in these companies, are not strong negative indicators. Insider stock holdings in the United States have seen reductions, with notable figures such as Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Peter Thiel selling their shares. According to data from information service Bloody, insider sales have increased significantly in January-March. This news has been covered by various media outlets, including the Financial Times, which raised questions about whether insider sales indicate price peaks.
Jeff Bezos sold 50 million Amazon shares for $8.5 billion in February but still retains a significant ownership stake in the company. Mark Zuckerberg has also sold shares in Meta, although he remains the largest shareholder. Despite the sales by these founders, portfolio managers like Juuso Kenkkilä and Antti Raappana do not see them as negative signals. While insider sales can be seen as a reason for caution, managers like Kenkkilä believe that the founders are likely managing their wealth rather than reacting to negative information. The sales may be a result of the rapid increase in share prices for both companies prompting some optimization.
Overall, portfolio managers consider the reductions in shares to be minor in relation to the founders’ total holdings. They do not see these sales as a clear indication of negative information about the companies’ performance or stock prices. Instead, they believe that it is possible that changes in perceptions of these valuations may reflect new perspectives on market conditions after significant price increases over recent years.
