US executives sold 4 times more stock than they bought
In February 2026, top US company executives sold their own shares way more than they bought, selling outnumbered buying by more than four-to-one (about 4.2 in The Washington Service data, the highest in roughly 20 months, while another dataset showed about 4.8).
Altogether, insiders offloaded $6.6 billion in stock, with S&P 500 leaders making up most of it.
Insider selling
When insiders sell big while markets are shaky, it can be a sign they think stocks might be overpriced or due for a dip.
The buy-sell ratio dropped to just 0.23 (well below the usual average), showing many executives are playing it safe right now, even if some sales are just for personal reasons.
S&P 500 had its worst month in almost a year
The S&P 500 had its worst month in almost a year thanks to worries about AI shakeups, new tariffs, and global tensions.
Still, nearly 40% of investors feel bullish, higher than normal, even as prices wobble.
So while executives seem cautious, plenty of regular investors remain optimistic.