Stock Price Surged, Utility Sector Kept Flat Insider Trading Statistics

Feb. 11, 2011 - PRLog -- It is an analogy that Utility stocks perform as a good hedge during turbulent economic times. Since supply and demand very continuously, so does the profitability over utility company. Then there are government regulations that cap earnings as well as utility usage issues. In fact, some Utility firms outperformed S&P over the year.

During the time when U.S. stocks surged and insider trading of many industry sectors turned to slow down, utility sector remained a relative stable insider trading rate. Although trading amount measured by the number of transactions and number of trading companies declined slightly, the insider buy ratio remained exactly the same as 40% during the past four weeks. Insider net buyer decreased from 23 companies to 19 companies. Insider net sellers decreased from 35 companies to 28 companies.

The follows are Utility companies settled big trades measured by net trading amounts. The follows are significant insider trading of U.S. Leisure Sector during the past 4 weeks. For more data and analysis about insider trading, please visit http://www.insiderslab.com/media/mediaRoom.php

UGI Corporation  – UGI is a distributor and marketer of energy products and services In the new year, UGI assigned Robert C. Flexon as the Chief Financial Officer. The company reported a net income of $113.1 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2011, compared to $98.4 million, or $0.90 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2010. UGI was the largest insider net seller of the month with the insider net trading amount of $11.79 million.

EQT Corporation  – EQT reported 2010 earnings of $227.7 million, 45% higher than the $156.9 million earned in 2009. On February 1, EQT’s natural gas processing complex in Langley, Kentucky and an associated natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline was announced to be acquired by MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P.  for $230 million. EQT’s common shares boosted its price from about $30.00 to $48.00 in the last quarter of 2010. Murry Gerber who is the Executive Chairman and Director of the firm acquired over 500,000 shares in February through open market purchase and option exercise.

Wisconsin Energy  - Vice President and Treasurer of the company Jeffrey West is planning to be retired at the end of April 2011. Wisconsin Energy reported earnings from continuing operations of $126 million or $1.06 a share for the fourth quarter of 2010 which compares with earnings from continuing operations of $113 million or 96 cents a share for the final quarter of 2009. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of 90 cents a share on their Preferred Stock. Insider Trades of Wisconsin Energy were settled by three insiders during the month. Executive Vice President Frederick Kuester disposed 33,000 common shares. Executive VP & CFO Allen Leverett disposed $30,500 common shares. Chairman, President and CEO Gale Klappa disposed 22,184 common shares. All of the shares were disposed through market option sale.


Report Editor: Kelly Liu in Vancouver at kelly@insiderslab.com

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