Insider Trading Report: January 06, 2026 — Notable Transactions

Insider trading activity filed on January 06, 2026 showed 16 transactions across 6 companies, with notable concentration in the aerospace-defense sector. The filing date captured primarily equity compensation awards to Curtiss-Wright executives following the defense contractor's exceptional 30%+ surge in the past month, alongside significant director-level purchases at United Natural Foods totaling over $573,000. The transactions span aerospace-defense, semiconductors, food distribution, industrial equipment, and financial services sectors, with market capitalizations ranging from $245 million to $56 billion.

A clear pattern emerged around Curtiss-Wright Corporation, where seven insiders—including the CEO, CFO, COO, and multiple directors—received stock awards on January 2nd and 5th as the company rides momentum from defense spending and M&A activity. Meanwhile, a United Natural Foods director made substantial open-market purchases amid positive analyst coverage on natural and organic food trends, while an NXP Semiconductors executive sold shares following major product announcements at CES 2026.

Notable Insider Transactions

Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) - $22.08B Market Cap

Transaction Details:

• Insider: Peter C. Wallace — Director
• Transaction Type: Award
• Shares: 981 shares at $572.38
• Total Value: $561,505
• Filing Date: January 06, 2026
• Transaction Date: January 02, 2026
• Ownership After: 5,988 shares

Recent Developments:

• January 6: Zacks Investment Research highlighted Curtiss-Wright among five "high-flying old economy stocks" that have surged over 30% in the past month, noting the AI rally has broadened into traditional industrial sectors.
• January 2: Zacks coverage emphasized aerospace-defense equipment stocks like Curtiss-Wright continue benefiting from M&A momentum and solid air traffic trends.
• January 3: Defense World published head-to-head comparison between Rocket Lab and Curtiss-Wright as competing aerospace investments.

Context:
This director award is the largest among seven Curtiss-Wright insider transactions filed on January 6th. The company's executive team—including CEO Lynn M. Bamford, CFO Christopher Farkas, COO Kevin Rayment, and other senior leaders—all received stock awards on January 2nd and 5th, suggesting annual equity compensation grants. The timing coincides with exceptional stock performance (+30% in past month) driven by defense sector momentum following geopolitical developments and the company's strategic positioning in aerospace-defense equipment. Director Wallace's award represents approximately 19.6% of his total holdings after the transaction, indicating meaningful alignment with shareholder interests.

Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) - $22.08B Market Cap

Transaction Details:

• Insider: Dean M. Flatt — Director
• Transaction Type: Award
• Shares: 727 shares at $572.38
• Total Value: $416,120
• Filing Date: January 06, 2026
• Transaction Date: January 02, 2026
• Ownership After: 12,429 shares

Recent Developments:

• Same news context as above—Curtiss-Wright featured prominently in analyst coverage highlighting defense sector strength and 30%+ recent gains.

Context:
Director Flatt's award is part of the coordinated equity compensation across Curtiss-Wright's leadership team. The transaction represents approximately 6.2% of Flatt's post-transaction holdings, demonstrating ongoing equity accumulation. The clustering of seven insider awards on the same dates (January 2nd and 5th) suggests these are scheduled compensation grants rather than discretionary purchases, though the timing during a strong stock rally ensures executives benefit from recent performance. Curtiss-Wright's mention in multiple investment research reports as a top aerospace-defense pick provides context for the board's willingness to maintain equity-heavy compensation structures.

NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NXPI) - $56.34B Market Cap

Transaction Details:

• Insider: Jennifer Wuamett — EVP & General Counsel
• Transaction Type: Sale
• Shares: 2,867 shares at $221.62
• Total Value: $635,374
• Filing Date: January 06, 2026
• Transaction Date: January 02, 2026
• Ownership After: 11,811 shares

Recent Developments:

• January 6: NXP and GE HealthCare announced collaboration to pioneer advancements in edge AI for acute care, showcasing new anesthesia and neonatal concepts at CES.
• January 5: NXP unveiled the S32N7 super-integration processor series on a 5nm foundation, unlocking software-defined vehicle (SDV) potential—major announcement at CES 2026.
• January 6: Seeking Alpha analysis identified semiconductor sector starting 2026 with "powerful tailwinds" but noted potential for these to turn into headwinds, creating mixed outlook.

Context:
This executive sale occurred just before NXP's major product unveilings at CES 2026, including the S32N7 processor for software-defined vehicles and the GE HealthCare edge AI collaboration. The transaction represents approximately 19.5% of Wuamett's remaining holdings, indicating a meaningful but not complete liquidation. As EVP & General Counsel, Wuamett likely executed this sale under a pre-arranged 10b5-1 trading plan to avoid insider trading concerns around CES announcements. The timing—January 2nd, three days before the S32N7 unveiling—suggests pre-planned tax or diversification strategy rather than lack of confidence. Multiple institutional investors have recently adjusted NXP positions, per recent 13F filings mentioned in the news summary.

United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) - $2.01B Market Cap

Transaction Details:

• Insider: James C. Pappas — Director
• Transaction Type: Purchase
• Shares: 15,000 shares at $33.76
• Total Value: $506,400
• Filing Date: January 06, 2026
• Transaction Date: January 02, 2026
• Ownership After: 192,178 shares

Recent Developments:

• December 31: Zacks Investment Research featured United Natural Foods as a "Top Natural and Organic Food Stock for 2026" as consumers increasingly prioritize healthier options, alongside Beyond Meat, Vital Farms, and General Mills.
• December 30: Zacks identified UNFI as one of three food industry stocks "to feast on before the new year," citing cost control, pricing discipline, and focused innovation.
• December 29: Zacks analysis questioned whether UNFI stock is undervalued, noting attention to valuation metrics alongside the firm's Zacks Rank system.
• December 24: Halper Sadeh LLC, an investor rights law firm, issued notice encouraging UNFI shareholders to contact the firm regarding their rights, suggesting potential corporate governance or transaction issues.

Context:
Director Pappas made two substantial open-market purchases totaling $573,000 over four days (January 2nd and 5th), demonstrating strong conviction in UNFI's prospects. The January 2nd purchase of 15,000 shares represents a significant deployment of capital by a director and sends a bullish signal to the market. This transaction increased Pappas's holdings by approximately 8.5%, bringing total ownership to 192,178 shares before the subsequent January 5th purchase. The timing coincides with positive analyst coverage positioning UNFI to benefit from consumer health trends, though the Halper Sadeh legal notice introduces uncertainty. Director purchases of this magnitude often signal insiders believe the stock is undervalued relative to intrinsic value or near-term catalysts.

United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) - $2.01B Market Cap

Transaction Details:

• Insider: James C. Pappas — Director
• Transaction Type: Purchase
• Shares: 2,000 shares at $33.30
• Total Value: $66,600
• Filing Date: January 06, 2026
• Transaction Date: January 05, 2026
• Ownership After: 194,178 shares

Recent Developments:

• Same news context as above—UNFI featured in multiple positive analyst reports on natural/organic food trends.

Context:
This follow-up purchase three days after Pappas's $506,400 transaction reinforces the director's conviction in UNFI's valuation. The pattern of multiple purchases in quick succession—totaling $573,000—is particularly notable as it demonstrates sustained buying rather than a one-time opportunistic trade. Pappas now owns 194,178 shares representing substantial personal exposure to the company's performance. Combined with positive analyst coverage highlighting UNFI's cost control and positioning in the growing organic food market, these director purchases may signal confidence in upcoming quarterly results or strategic developments. The legal notice from Halper Sadeh adds complexity, but directors typically increase purchases when they believe market concerns are overblown.

Full Transaction Table

Note: Excludes M-Exempt transactions (option exercises) at Kadant Inc. (KAI) and Motorcar Parts of America (MPAA) as these are routine option conversions.

Market Themes

Defense Sector Equity Compensation Surge

Curtiss-Wright's seven insider awards filed on January 6th highlight how equity compensation in the defense sector has become significantly more valuable as stocks surge. With CW up over 30% in the past month driven by geopolitical tensions (Venezuela strikes, defense spending momentum), stock awards granted at $472-$572 per share represent substantial value transfers to executives and directors. This pattern reflects broader defense industry strength as government spending priorities shift toward modernization and response to global conflicts.

Director Purchases Signal Conviction

The United Natural Foods director purchases totaling $573,000 by James C. Pappas stand out as genuine open-market buying rather than compensation-based transactions. Director purchases of this magnitude—representing significant personal capital deployment—historically correlate with insider confidence in near-term catalysts or undervaluation. The two-tranche purchase pattern (January 2nd and 5th) suggests accumulation strategy rather than reactive trading. This occurs against a backdrop of positive analyst coverage positioning UNFI for consumer health trends, though legal notices add complexity.

Executive Sales at Semiconductor Companies

NXP Semiconductors' EVP General Counsel sale of $635,374 aligns with typical executive diversification patterns at large-cap technology companies. The sale retained approximately 80% of holdings, suggesting routine portfolio management rather than lack of confidence. Notably, the transaction occurred just before major CES 2026 product announcements, indicating execution under pre-arranged 10b5-1 trading plans to maintain compliance with insider trading regulations.

Scheduled Award Timing

Multiple transactions reflect annual or quarterly equity compensation cycles rather than discretionary market activity. The clustering of Curtiss-Wright awards on January 2nd and 5th, Tompkins Financial director award on January 5th, and various M-Exempt option exercises at Kadant suggest calendar-driven compensation events. This is routine corporate practice and generally neutral from a market signal perspective, though execution during strong stock performance benefits recipients.

How to Interpret Insider Trading

Corporate insiders—executives, directors, and significant shareholders—must file Form 4 with the SEC within two business days of buying or selling company stock. These filings provide transparency into insider sentiment and confidence levels, though interpretation requires context.

Insider purchases generally signal confidence in the company's prospects, particularly when directors or executives deploy personal capital in open-market transactions. Large purchases or multiple insiders buying simultaneously carry stronger bullish implications. However, small purchases or those made to satisfy ownership requirements may be less meaningful.

Insider sales are more nuanced. Executives often sell shares for legitimate reasons: tax obligations, diversification, estate planning, or exercising expiring options. Sales under pre-arranged 10b5-1 trading plans are particularly common and don't necessarily reflect negative views. Large sales by multiple insiders over short periods, or sales by executives who rarely sell, warrant closer attention.

Awards and grants (Type A transactions) reflect compensation rather than market transactions and are generally neutral signals. These are scheduled events tied to employment agreements and board service.

Consider the transaction context: size relative to the insider's total holdings, timing around company events, patterns across multiple insiders, and whether transactions are open-market or compensation-based. Insider activity is one data point among many—not a standalone investment signal.

This is informational only, not investment advice.

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