Ingersoll-Rand PLC (IR), Basic Energy Services, Inc (BAS): Five Stocks Insiders Have Been Snapping Up

An insider bought 10,000 shares of intellectual property management services company RPX Corp (NASDAQ:RPXC) on August 2nd. The stock is up 67% year to date, even after a slight correction in late July that likely served as the driver of this insider purchase. Even though RPX Corp (NASDAQ:RPXC)’s revenue was up in the second quarter of 2013 versus a year earlier, higher costs generated a 19% decrease in profits. Thanks to a good Q1 earnings are still up for the year, but the trailing P/E of 20 demonstrates that RPX Corp (NASDAQ:RPXC) is dependent on future growth making the weak quarter a troubling sign.

Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR) is another stock seeing an insider buy shares recently. As a real estate investment trust, Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR) receives favorable tax treatment condition on distributing a large share of taxable income to shareholders. As with many REITs, this results in a high dividend yield; the stock’s annual yield is 5.7% following an increase in the quarterly dividend earlier this year. Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR) invests in real estate related to the technology sector, including technology offices and corporate data centers. The stock dropped 9% in July and is down 21% year to date.

Another REIT with recent insider buying is Hersha Hospitality Trust (NYSE:HT). The $1.1 billion market cap company invests in hotels; at current prices and dividend levels, its annual yield is 4.3%. We would note, however, that quarterly dividend payments are still only a third of what they were prior to the financial crisis. This demonstrates that the company would be vulnerable to any future economic shocks. Hersha Hospitality Trust (NYSE:HT)’s stock also plunged in late July, and while its stock price is up year to date the 9% return is well below what the S&P 500 has done.

With that in mind, here are a couple stories that may get your mind off of the markets:

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Disclosure: I own no shares of any stocks mentioned in this article.