We recently published a list of 20 Mid-Cap Stocks Insiders Were Buying in Q1 2025. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. (NYSE:NOG) stands against other mid-cap stocks insiders were buying in Q1 2025.
Stock markets tumbled on Wednesday, with technology shares leading the slide amid growing concerns over ever-changing tariffs. The broader market index dropped 2.2%, the blue-chip companies fell by almost 700 points, a decline of 1.7%, and the Nasdaq Composite —dominated by tech—plunged nearly 3.1%. With this decline, the Nasdaq is now about 19% below its recent peak, edging closer to bear market territory.
Stocks dropped to their lowest levels of the day Wednesday after Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned that the tariffs could increase short-term inflation. He noted the Federal Reserve might face a tough situation where its goals of full employment and stable prices may come into conflict, according to CNBC.
During periods of market and economic uncertainty, insider trading often draws increased interest. Executive stock purchases can suggest confidence in the company’s outlook, while sales may simply reflect personal financial needs or efforts to diversify investments. Many executives use pre-established trading plans, such as 10b5-1 programs, which are designed to remove timing decisions from the equation. To get a clearer picture, insider activity should be evaluated alongside the company’s overall financial health and broader market conditions.
Our Methodology
Today, we’re focusing on stocks that have seen heavy insider buying activity in the first quarter of the year. Using Insider Monkey’s insider trading screener, we identified companies with market caps between $2 billion and $10 billion, where at least two insiders purchased shares in the past three months. From this list, we ranked the top 20 stocks with the highest value of insider purchases. Most of the stocks that have been recently covered were excluded from our analysis.
Our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds, focusing on insider trading and stock picks from hedge fund investor newsletters and conferences. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
For each stock, we note the number of insiders who acquired shares in the first quarter and the market capitalizations.
An aerial view of an oil and gas platform in the middle of the ocean, representing the massive resources harvested by the company.
Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. (NYSE:NOG)
Market Cap: $2.34 billion
Northern Oil and Gas, Inc., based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, is an independent energy company focused on acquiring and developing crude oil and natural gas properties across the U.S.
In March, three insiders purchased approximately $1.74 million worth of Northern Oil and Gas shares at an average price of $27.93 per share. The stock now trades at $23.81 per share, having dropped 35.93% year-to-date, and 43.91% over the past 12 months.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, Northern Oil and Gas produced 131,777 Boe per day, up 15% from the previous year, and generated $290.3 million in GAAP cash flow from operations. The company reported $96.4 million in free cash flow, spent $258.9 million on capital expenditures, and completed a $511.3 million acquisition in the Uinta Basin. During the quarter, Northern Oil and Gas also increased its quarterly dividend by 12.5% to $0.45 per share, and repurchased nearly 694,000 shares at an average price of $36.28.
According to MarketBeat, 10 analysts rate Northern Oil and Gas stock as a “Moderate Buy” with an average price target of $44.78.
Overall, NOG ranks 11th on our list of mid-cap stocks insiders were buying in Q1 2025. While we acknowledge the potential of NOG, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NOG but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.
Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.