TechFlow reports that on July 17, US corporate executives are selling off stocks at the second-fastest pace in more than 20 years.
For some investors, this is a typical warning signal, as it means that those who know the business operations best are cautious about the current market.
According to data from EPFR Global Market Intelligence, in the first half of 2026, US corporate insiders cumulatively sold stocks worth $77.6 billion, a 20% increase compared to the same period last year. In the past 20-plus years, only the selling scale in 2021 was larger, when the market was driven by large-scale stimulus funds during the pandemic.
EPFR analysts including Winston Chua wrote in the report: "Insiders' trading behavior indicates that at current valuation levels, corporate executives have no strong willingness to increase their stock holdings." Additionally, buying activity by corporate insiders remains sluggish. In the first half of 2026, they only bought company stocks worth $6.9 billion, only slightly higher than the seven-year low of $6.7 billion set in the same period last year. (Jin10)
