Insiders Are Buying Starbucks Corporation (SBUX), Walter Energy, Inc. (WLT), and More

Editor’s Note: Related tickers: Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX), Walter Energy, Inc. (NYSE:WLT), Key Energy Services, Inc. (NYSE:KEG), Kaman Corporation (NYSE:KAMN), LRR Energy LP (NYSE:LRE)

Studies show that stocks bought by insiders narrowly outperform the market (read our analysis of studies on insider trading). Our explanation for this finding is that insiders should avoid buying shares unless they are more confident than usual in the stock’s prospects; otherwise, economic theory suggests that they should prefer to diversify away from the company. Investors can’t imitate every insider purchase, but we think that they can be useful sources of initial ideas for further research if “stocks bought by insiders” is treated similarly to quantitative stock screens. Here are five stocks which insiders have bought recently:

Robert Gates, former U.S. Secretary of Defense, reported buying 3,300 shares of Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) at an average price of $60.49 per share; Gates had joined Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX)’s Board of Directors about a year ago. In addition to insider activity, we track quarterly 13F filings from hedge funds and other notable investors to help us develop investing strategies (we have found, for example, that the most popular small cap stocks among hedge funds outperform the S&P 500 by 18 percentage points per year). This database also lets us see that in the fourth quarter of 2012, Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) was one of the most popular restaurant stocks among hedge funds (find more restaurant stocks hedge funds loved). When we last looked at Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) we acknowledged its impressive growth rates (revenue rose 11% last quarter compared to the first quarter of 2012, with 6% comp sales growth) but noted that the trailing earnings multiple is 32.

Multiple insiders have been buying Walter Energy, Inc. (NYSE:WLT), a coal company with an emphasis on metallurgical coal (which is used to produce steel). Consensus insider purchases tend to be a somewhat stronger bullish signal than moves by only one insider. The stock has rallied strongly on the news, taking away at least some of any potential gains, but it’s interesting that the insiders are so bullish on met coal; Walter Energy, Inc. (NYSE:WLT), as an example, is down over 60% in the last year as relatively weak global macro conditions have reduced demand for steel. Analysts are forecasting sufficient earnings estimates for a forward P/E of 15, but we are skeptical.