Investors often pay close attention to insider buying (i.e., when company executives buy shares of their own businesses). The reason is simple: corporate insiders typically have a deeper understanding of their companies than most outside investors. When executives use their own money to purchase stock on the open market, it can signal that they believe shares are undervalued or that the company’s long-term prospects are stronger than the current stock price suggests.
Recent insider purchases at Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), Klarna Group (NYSE: KLAR), and Kura Oncology (NASDAQ: KURA) put that idea in the spotlight. While each company faces its own challenges, executives at all three businesses have demonstrated a willingness to increase their exposure to their companies’ shares.
Pfizer CEO Makes First Open-Market Purchase Since 2019
Pfizer Inc. recently saw several insiders buy shares following its latest earnings report, including Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Albert Bourla, who picked up 38,000 Pfizer shares at $26.34 each on August 12, spending about $1 million. Notably, the transaction marked his first open-market purchase of Pfizer stock since becoming CEO in 2019.
Director Ronald Blaylock bought 39,231 shares at $25.46 apiece, while director Mortimer Buckley purchased 37,632 shares at $25.52 each. Combined with Bourla’s investment, the three insiders spent approximately $3 million on Pfizer stock.
The purchases came after Pfizer reported better-than-expected revenue and adjusted earnings. Strong sales of Eliquis, the company’s blood thinner, helped drive the results, while Pfizer’s cancer business continued to show growth.
Klarna CEO Bets Nearly $10 Million on Shares
Klarna Group CEO and co-founder Sebastian Siemiatkowski bought about $10 million worth of the fintech company’s stock. According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Siemiatkowski purchased 692,506 Klarna shares at about $14.37 each.
The investment comes at a difficult time for Klarna. Shares have fallen about 50% this year, extending the post-IPO struggles that have weighed on the buy-now, pay-later company since its 2025 debut. Klarna recently beat profit expectations for the second consecutive quarter, but the stock fell as investors focused on weaker guidance and the planned departure of two senior executives, including CFO Niclas Neglén.
Siemiatkowski’s buy represents a significant vote of confidence at a time when investors remain skeptical about Klarna’s ability to achieve sustained profitability.
Kura Oncology CEO Adds $1.2 Million in Stock
Kura Oncology Inc. CEO and co-founder Troy Wilson purchased 100,000 shares at prices ranging from $11.47 to $12.85, spending about $1.2 million through a revocable trust. Following the transaction, Wilson held a combined 1.2 million shares, or approximately 1.4% of Kura’s outstanding stock.
Wilson has a history of buying Kura shares, having purchased another 100,000 shares through the same trust on August 17.
The buying comes as Kura moves forward with the commercialization of Komzifti, its first commercial product. The drug received regulatory approval in November and targets a subset of patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Following second-quarter results, Wilson highlighted early demand for Komzifti. According to the company, the drug captured the largest share of new patients starting treatment in its class within six months of its market launch.
What Insider Buying Really Means
Insider buying can be an encouraging signal, but it should not be viewed as a guarantee that a stock will rise. Executives can buy shares for many reasons, and even substantial purchases do not eliminate the fundamental risks facing a business.
Still, purchases by senior executives can offer investors a useful window into management’s confidence. At Pfizer, Klarna and Kura Oncology, executives are putting meaningful amounts of their own capital behind their companies despite very different challenges. For investors, the key may be to view insider buying as one piece of the puzzle—alongside earnings, valuation, growth prospects and risks—rather than as a standalone reason to buy a stock.
