Gary Gladstein, a director at Mueller Industries (MLI), recently picked up 11,399 additional shares. The buy increased his stake by over 9 percent, and came to a total cost of just under $544,000.
This is the first insider buy at the company since February. A number of company insiders have been regular sellers of shares, including both directors and the company CEO over the past three years, even as shares have trended higher.
At present, company insiders own 2.8 percent of shares.
The metal fabrication company creates a number of alloys and products using copper, brass, aluminum, and plastic with a worldwide customer base. Shares are up 67 percent over the past year, thanks to robust demand, as earnings have jumped 300 percent and revenue is up 59 percent.
Action to take: Shares are in an uptrend, and are likely to stay that way, even with the stock at a 52-week high. Investors can grab a 1.1 percent dividend here, which the company has raised in the past year and may in the future.
To play the current uptrend, traders may like the March $55 calls. Last carrying a bid/ask spread around $2.30, the calls could move in-the-money if the current rally in shares continue. Traders may be able to lock in high-double to low-triple digit profits before expiration.
Disclosure: The author of this article has no position in the company mentioned here, but may trade after the next 72 hours. The author receives no compensation from any of the companies mentioned in this article.