Insiders Bet Big on These 3 Stocks for 2025

Insider buying represents one of the few market signals that cuts through the noise of algorithms and price targets. When corporate directors pull out their personal checkbooks to add to their stakes while Wall Street debates quarterly guidance, they communicate in the clearest language available. These transactions are public, the money is real, and the timing is voluntary—a combination that historically implies potential for abnormal returns ahead.

2025 is shaping up to be a year when insiders are putting their money to work with unusual speed. According to recent returns and filings, executives at several companies are actively buying their own stocks on the open market. Among these, three U.S.-based companies stand out for their exceptional insider activity: Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY), Matador Resources (NYSE:MTDR), and Eastman Chemical (NYSE:EMN).

Eli Lilly has delivered terrific gains over the past five years, but the past year specifically hasn’t been as rosy. LLY stock has declined 15.61% in the past year, marking the first significant decline since 2008. However, management is taking this opportunity to load up, with eight unique insider buys in the past three months.

The fundamentals support this confidence. Revenue grew 37.64% year-over-year to $15.56 billion in Q2, while net income increased 90.78% YOY to $5.66 billion. Analysts expect 75.88% EPS growth for all of 2025 and 32.57% in 2026, with revenue projected to increase by 36.92% in 2025 and 18.75% next year.

The growth could accelerate further if primary competitor Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) continues falling behind. NVO stock is down 56.7% in just the past year, and its year-over-year revenue growth is almost a third of what Eli Lilly has delivered. Analysts expect up to 55.61% upside potential in the next 12 months, suggesting insiders may be positioning for a quick recovery.

Matador Resources, an independent energy company that produces and sells oil and natural gas in the U.S., is seeing strong insider conviction with 10 buys in the past three months. The company’s biggest revenue stream comes from crude oil sales, and it’s increasing production due to a surge in demand, particularly as Europe imports more oil and natural gas from the U.S. and Canada.

The company raised its full-year guidance for 2026, seeing total daily production from 200k to 205k BOE/d, up 2k to 3k on both the lower and higher ends. Operational improvements include reduced drilling times, while the midstream segment hit record EBITDA despite lower CapEx guidance. The company has also increased dividends consistently and launched its first $400 million share repurchase program in late April.

MTDR stock yields 2.61% with a forward payout ratio of 20.12%. Although the stock is down 34.6% from its high, insiders believe it’s poised to bounce back soon, supported by steady energy demand. The average price target of $67.3 implies 40.3% upside potential from current levels.

Eastman Chemical, a specialty materials company that makes additives, fibers, and chemical products, has recorded 11 insider buys within the past three months—the highest among the three companies. EMN stock is down 49% from its 2021 peak, largely due to the company’s significant debt load, which led to increased net interest losses as interest rates rose.

However, the company has remained profitable and made substantial progress on debt reduction. Eastman Chemical’s debt has decreased from $7.55 billion in 2014 to $5.1 billion for all of 2024, while cash increased from $293 million to $837 million. The company has also been aggressively buying back shares, reducing outstanding shares from 152.5 million in 2013 to 115.2 million in 2024.

Insiders appear to be betting on potential rate cuts and tariffs causing a boom in industrial demand. The consensus price target of $87.8 implies 33.1% upside potential, suggesting that current levels may represent an attractive entry point for those following the insider activity.