Weekly Top Insider Buys: HRB, LPI, GCO, GAM, SONC, MNKD

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Jul 09, 2012
According to GuruFocus Insider Data, these are the largest insider buys during the past week. The overall trend of insiders is illustrated in the chart below:





H&R Block Inc. (HRB, Financial): Director Paul J. Brown Bought 1,200 Shares


Director of H&R Block Inc. (HRB) Paul J. Brown bought 1,200 shares on 07/02/2012 at an average price of $16.14. H&R Block Inc. is a diversified company involved in tax return preparation,electronic filing of income tax returns and other tax-related services. H&r Block, Inc. has a market cap of $4.43 billion; its shares were traded at around $16.14 with a P/E ratio of 13.13 and P/S ratio of 1.53. The dividend yield of H&R Block Inc. stocks is 4.95%.


On June 26, 2012, company reported annual 2012 results ended on April 30, 2012. Company reported GAAP net income from continuing operations for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2012 of $346.0 million, or $1.16 per share. These results include after-tax charges of $30.8 million, or 10 cents per share, largely related to a previously announced strategic realignment and litigation expenses. Total revenues of $2.9 billion were down 1.7 percent compared to the prior year.


Laredo Petroleum Holdings Inc. (LPI, Financial): Director Myles W. Scoggins Bought 5,000 Shares


Director of Laredo Petroleum Holdings Inc. (LPI) Myles W. Scoggins bought 5,000 shares on 06/29/2012 at an average price of $21.7. Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc. is engaged in the exploration, development and acquisition of oil and natural gas properties in the Permian and Mid-Continent regions of the U.S. Laredo Petroleum Holdings Inc has a market cap of $2.78 billion; its shares were traded at around $21.7 with and P/S ratio of 5.45.


On June 6, 2012, company announced that it has revised its production guidance and capital program for 2012. Total production for 2012 is now expected in the range of 11.2 million to 11.9 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBoe), an approximate 35% increase from 2011 production and an increase from the initial 2012 guidance which called for 25% annual production growth.


Recently, Senior Vice President and General Counsel Kenneth E. Dornblaser bought shares and Senior Vice President Exploration and Land Patrick J. Curth sold shares.


Genesco Inc. (GCO, Financial): Director Thurgood Marshall Jr. Bought 3,600 Shares


Director of Genesco Inc. (GCO) Thurgood Marshall Jr. bought 3,600 shares on 07/02/2012 at an average price of $61.81. Genesco Inc., a Nashville-based specialty retailer, sells footwear, headwear and accessories in retail stores in the U.S. and Canada. Genesco Inc. has a market cap of $1.51 billion; its shares were traded at around $61.81 with a P/E ratio of 14.11 and P/S ratio of 0.66. Genesco Inc. had an annual average earnings growth of 7.2% over the past 10 years.


On May 23, company announced that its first-quarter profit rose to $20.6 million, or 85 cents a share, from $14.8 million, or 63 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Adjusted profit in the latest period totaled 98 cents a share. Sales rose 25% to $600 million, reflecting the acquisition of Schuh.


Recently, Chairman, President and CEO Robert J. Dennis, Senior Vice President Jonathan D. Caplan, Director Marty G. Dickens and Senior Vice President Jonathan D. Caplan sold shares of GCO stock.


General American Investors Co. Inc. (GAM, Financial): President Jeffrey W. Priest Bought 1,100 Shares


President of General American Investors Co. Inc. (GAM) Jeffrey W. Priest bought 1,100 shares on 07/02/2012 at an average price of $27.26. General American Investors is a closed-end, diversified management investment company whose investment objective is long-term capital appreciation through investment in companies with above average growth potential. General American Investors Co. Inc. has a market cap of $795.42 million; its shares were traded at around $27.26 .


On June 11, 2012, company announced that its Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of an additional 1,000,000 outstanding shares of common stock when the shares are trading at a discount from the underlying net asset value of at least 8%. This continues a repurchase program which began in March 1995. During the past 17¼ years, the Company has repurchased 17.9 million shares of common stock for $494 million at an average discount of 12.2%.


President Jeffrey W. Priest as been buying shares consistently since June of 2012.


Sonic Corporation (SONC, Financial): President of subsidiary Omar Janjua Bought 5,000 Shares


President of subsidiary of Sonic Corporation (SONC) Omar Janjua bought 5,000 shares on 07/03/2012 at an average price of $10.34. Sonic Corp. operates and franchises one of the largest chain of drive-in restaurants in the U.S. Sonic Corporation has a market cap of $626.5 million; its shares were traded at around $10.34 with a P/E ratio of 18.46 and P/S ratio of 1.15. Sonic Corporation had an annual average earnings growth of 10.6% over the past 10 years.


On June 21, SONC reported third quarter fiscal 2012 adjusted earnings of 24 cents per share,. On a GAAP basis, quarterly earnings were 24 cents per share, compared with a loss of 8 cents in the year-earlier quarter. Total revenue in the reported quarter dipped 1.8% year over year to $149.4 million.


Recently, CEO J. Clifford Hudson and Executive Vice President and CFO Stephen C. Vaughan sold 58,027 shares of SONC stock; however, President of subsidiary Omar Janjua has been buying shares.


MannKind Corporation (MNKD, Financial): Corporate Vice President and CFO Matthew J. Pfeffer Bought 1,054 Shares


Corporate Vice President and CFO of MannKind Corporation (MNKD) Matthew J. Pfeffer bought 1,054 shares on 06/30/2012 at an average price of $2.74. MannKind Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutic products for diseases such as diabetes, cancer, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. MannKind Corporation has a market cap of $461.51 million.


On June 27, 2012, company announced that it amended the $350.0 million Amended and Restated Promissory Note, as amended , made by the company in favor of The Mann Group LLC ("The Mann Group"), an entity controlled by it chief executive officer and principal stockholder, Alfred E. Mann. Pursuant to the amendment, accrued and unpaid interest that becomes due and payable under the Note may be paid-in-kind and capitalized into new principal indebtedness under the Note upon agreement of the parties. In addition, the company and The Mann Group agreed that the Cancelled Principal Amount would be permanently retired and not available for re-borrowing under the Note. The amendment also extends the date through which we can borrow under the Note to Dec. 31, 2012.


Recently,10% Owner Alfred E. Mann, Corporate Vice President Juergen Martens, President and COO Hakan Edstrom and Corporate Vice President Juergen Martens all have bought shares of the company.


For the complete list of stocks that bought by their company executives, go to: Insider Buys.