Insider trading refers to the trading of publicly traded securities by someone who has material, non-public information about the stock. Material in this case refers to any information that may significantly impact an investor's decision to buy or sell the stock; non-public means that the information is, at the time of trading, only available to "insiders" and not to any public investors. The SEC describes insider trading as a "breach of a fiduciary duty or other relationship of trust and confidence." Insider trading is illegal when it gives an insider an unfair advantage over other investors. To use an example, in 2003 Martha Stewart was charged with insider trading by the SEC after dumping 4000 shares of pharmaceutical company ImClone Systems after receiving an insider tip. At the time ImClone had an anti-cancer drug being reviewed by the FDA; right after she sold her shares, it became public knowledge that the drug had been rejected and that the CEO of ImClone had also dumped all of his company shares. Shortly after her sale, stock prices of ImClone dropped 16%. Although insider trading is often illegal, and carries a highly negative connotation, the SEC has held that there are circumstances where it can be done legally. Members of a company are allowed to trade shares of their own company, so long as those transactions are fully disclosed to the SEC, who will make them public information.Insider Trading Definition
Insider Trading Defined in Simple Terms
Insider Trading Exclusions
Insider Trading FAQs
Insider trading refers to the trading of publicly traded securities by someone who has material, non-public information about the stock.
Insider trading is illegal when it gives an insider an unfair advantage over other investors.
Members of a company are allowed to trade shares of their own company, so long as those transactions are fully disclosed to the SEC, who will make the public information.
The SEC describes insider trading as a “breach of a fiduciary duty or other relationship of trust and confidence.”
In 2003, Martha Stewart was charged with insider trading by the SEC after dumping 4000 shares of pharmaceutical company ImClone Systems in the basis of an insider tip. Shortly after her sale, stock prices of ImClone dropped 16%.
True Tamplin is a published author, public speaker, CEO of UpDigital, and founder of Finance Strategists.
True is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF®), author of The Handy Financial Ratios Guide, a member of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, contributes to his financial education site, Finance Strategists, and has spoken to various financial communities such as the CFA Institute, as well as university students like his Alma mater, Biola University, where he received a bachelor of science in business and data analytics.
To learn more about True, visit his personal website, view his author profile on Amazon, or check out his speaker profile on the CFA Institute website.