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    Follow the Smart Money: 3 Insider-Picked Stocks - 7/29

    Ian Cooper
    Tuesday, July 29, 20256 min read
    Follow the Smart Money: 3 Insider-Picked Stocks - 7/29

    Journal of Financial Economics found that clusters of insider buying are particularly predictive of strong future returns, especially in small- and mid-cap stocks.

    So when four or more executives at a single firm step up to the plate and buy shares with their own money, it can serve as a powerful bullish signal. Here are three such companies seeing notable insider buying that may indicate better days ahead—and the potential for long-term investor gains.

    Company: Insider Action: 4 insiders buy $1.5 million in shares

    Avantor is a global provider of mission-critical products and services for the life sciences and advanced technologies industries. Founded in 1904, the company operates across a wide range of sectors, including biopharma, healthcare, education, and applied materials. Avantor supports labs and production environments with essential materials, chemicals, and services—playing a key role in both R&D and manufacturing processes around the globe.

    Despite its long history and vital market niche, Avantor’s stock has underperformed in recent quarters, falling from highs above $40 in 2021 to under $14 today. Much of the decline can be attributed to cyclical softness in the life sciences industry, along with macroeconomic headwinds and reduced research spending from biotech firms.

    But insiders may see a bottom forming.

    Four different C-suite executives recently purchased a total of $1.5 million worth of AVTR shares on the open market. That’s not pocket change—and it signals meaningful conviction that the company’s fundamentals could improve.

    Analysts still see long-term promise in Avantor’s platform, particularly as the biotech industry rebounds. The company’s cost-saving initiatives, broad customer base, and global supply chain expertise put it in a strong position to benefit as demand recovers. For long-term investors willing to be patient, following the insiders into AVTR at these depressed levels could prove rewarding.

    Small Caps Daily

    The digital transformation of healthcare is no longer a future concept—it’s happening right now, while this emerging company is at the center of it all. With cutting-edge platforms, high-growth acquisitions, and the recent launch of a game-changing AI-powered subsidiary, the company is positioning itself to become a dominant force in one of the world’s fastest-growing tech sectors.

    Company:

    Oaktree Specialty Lending isn’t your average company—it’s a business development company (BDC) managed by the alternative investment giant Oaktree Capital. As a BDC, OCSL provides customized lending solutions to middle-market companies, typically in the form of secured loans, mezzanine debt, and occasionally equity co-investments.

    The firm targets companies with enterprise values between $20 million and $150 million—often the types of borrowers that larger banks overlook. Its portfolio spans a wide range of industries, from software and pharmaceuticals to real estate, media, and manufacturing. And because BDCs are required to distribute at least 90% of taxable income to shareholders, they can be a powerful source of yield for income-focused investors.

    OCSL currently offers a healthy dividend yield, and it has maintained consistent distributions throughout multiple market cycles.

    Recently, four insiders—including executives directly involved in portfolio management and risk—stepped up and bought $373,000 worth of stock. While that may seem modest compared to larger firms, in the BDC world, insider buys of this scale suggest internal confidence in net asset value stability and forward income generation.

    Importantly, OCSL operates under the experienced umbrella of Oaktree Capital, which is known for its disciplined, value-oriented investment approach. That’s particularly important in a market where credit risk is rising, and where underwriting discipline is critical.

    For income-seeking investors who want exposure to private credit markets and high-yield lending, OCSL’s recent insider activity suggests the stock could offer value with a margin of safety.

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    Company:

    Minerals Technologies is a diversified specialty materials company with a 50+ year history. It operates through two main segments: Consumer & Specialties and Engineered Solutions. Its products are used in industries ranging from personal care and packaging to construction, wastewater remediation, and high-temperature metal casting.

    The company’s value proposition lies in its ability to engineer mineral-based systems for highly technical applications. For example, it offers precipitated calcium carbonate for paper production, geosynthetic liners for environmental protection, and refractory products for the metals industry. MTX even produces proprietary carbon composites used in aerospace and energy sectors.

    While MTX has held up relatively well in a volatile market, it hasn’t escaped investor uncertainty surrounding industrial demand and input costs. But four insiders—including executives with direct exposure to operations—recently purchased a combined $227,000 in shares.

    Why does this matter?

    Insider buying at stable, boring industrial firms like MTX tends to be more predictive than at hyper-growth companies. That’s because executives here aren’t chasing upside—they’re betting on steady cash flow, margin preservation, and execution. And with MTX’s diverse portfolio, growing global footprint, and exposure to long-cycle infrastructure and sustainability projects, there’s plenty of room for upside as capital expenditure trends rebound.

    Add in a modest dividend yield, a conservative balance sheet, and reasonable valuation metrics, and MTX starts to look like a solid long-term value play—especially when insiders are adding to their stakes.

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    Written by Ian Cooper

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