Weekly CEO Buys Highlight: Saul Centers Inc, Pinnacle Entertainment Inc, Solar Capital Ltd, Dole Food Company, Prospect Capital Corp.

Weekly CEO Buys Highlight: BFS, PNK, SLRC, DOLE, PSEC

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May 22, 2010
Last week’s top five stocks that were bought by their CEOs were Saul Centers Inc, Pinnacle Entertainment Inc, Solar Capital Ltd, Dole Food Company, Prospect Capital Corp. According to GuruFocus Insider Data, these are the largest CEO buys during the past week.

Saul Centers Inc. (BFS, Financial): CEO, 10% Owner B Francis Saul Ii Bought 133,600 Shares

CEO, 10% Owner of Saul Centers Inc. (BFS) B Francis Saul Ii bought 133,600 shares during the past week at an average price of $36.13. SAUL CENTERS, INC. is a real estate investment trust which is engaged in the management and development of the shopping center business of the Saul Organization. Saul Centers Inc. has a market cap of $654.5 million; its shares were traded at around $36.13 with and P/S ratio of 4.1. The dividend yield of Saul Centers Inc. stocks is 4%. Saul Centers Inc. had an annual average earning growth of 0.7% over the past 10 years.

Saul Centers recently reported its first quarter 2010 results. Total revenue increased 10% to $43.6 million, compared with $39.7 million in the first quarter of 2009. Operating income increased 9%.

Sell:: Sr. Vice President-Leasing Christopher Netter sold 4,000 shares of BFS stock on 04/08/2010 at the average price of 41.42, the price of the stock has decreased by 12.77% since.

Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. (PNK, Financial): President and CEO Anthony Michael Sanfilippo Bought 80,000 Shares

President and CEO of Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. (PNK) Anthony Michael Sanfilippo bought 80,000 shares during the past week at an average price of $11.68. Pinnacle Entertainment is a diversified gaming company that owns and operates casinos in Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada and Argentina and is pursuing the development of a hotel and casino resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. has a market cap of $701.7 million; its shares were traded at around $11.68 with and P/S ratio of 0.7.

PNK recently reported its first quarter 2010 results. The company announced that its revenue for the first quarter 2010 was $267 million, compared to $259 million in the first quarter of 2009. "Pinnacle generated solid first quarter operating results which reflect the initial benefits of our heightened focus on achieving operating efficiencies and exercising financial discipline throughout the Company. Our success with these strategies in the first quarter should provide an excellent foundation for further progress throughout the balance of the year," said Anthony Sanfilippo, president and chief executive officer of Pinnacle Entertainment. "Our operating and growth strategy is to build profitable revenue through the Company's commitment to a 'best-in-market' approach to the guest experience, further operating efficiency improvements and a disciplined view on capital spending and expansion."

George Soros bought 14,100 shares in the quarter that ended on 03/31/2010, which is less than 0.01% of the $6.73 billion portfolio of Soros Fund Management LLC.

Sell:: Exec. Vice Pres. & CFO Stephen H Capp sold 8,000 shares of PNK stock on 05/18/2010 at the average price of 13.9, the price of the stock has decreased by 15.97% since. There are mixed trades from other insiders.

Solar Capital Ltd. (slrc): CEO, Pres, Chair. of the Board Michael S Gross Bought 32,500 Shares

CEO, Pres, Chair. of the Board of Solar Capital Ltd. (slrc) Michael S Gross bought 32,500 shares during the past week at an average price of $20.29. Solar Capital Ltd. is a closed-end investment company that invests primarily in leveraged companies, including middle market companies, in the form of senior secured loans, mezzanine loans, and equity securities. Solar Capital Ltd. has a market cap of $668.1 million; its shares were traded at around $20.29 . The dividend yield of Solar Capital Ltd. stocks is 6.8%.

Solar Capital recently reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, including net asset value (NAV) per share of $22.18, a 7.5% increase over pro forma NAV per share of $20.64 at December 31, 2009, and earnings of $1.90 per share. In addition, Solar Capital announced that its Board of Directors has declared a second quarter dividend of $0.60 per share, payable on July 2, 2010 to stockholders of record on June 17, 2010. We expect the dividend to be paid from taxable earnings with specific tax characteristics reported to stockholders after the end of the calendar year.

Seth Klarman bought 2,010,973 shares in the quarter that ended on 03/31/2010, which is 2.47% of the $1.64 billion portfolio of The Baupost Group. George Soros bought 1,340,648 shares in the quarter that ended on 03/31/2010, which is 0.42% of the $6.73 billion portfolio of Soros Fund Management LLC.

Buy:: CFO & Sec Nicholas Radesca bought 1,000 shares of slrc stock on 05/13/2010 at the average price of 22.07, the price of the stock has decreased by 8.07% since.

Dole Food Company Inc (DOLE, Financial): President & CEO David A. Delorenzo Bought 50,000 Shares

President & CEO of Dole Food Company Inc (DOLE) David A. Delorenzo bought 50,000 shares on 05/13/2010 at an average price of $9.45. Dole Food Company's worldwide team of growers, packers, processors, shippers and employees is committed to consistently providing safe, high-quality fresh fruit, vegetables, and food products, while protecting the environment in which its products are grown and processed. Dole Food Company Inc has a market cap of $833.8 million; its shares were traded at around $9.45 with and P/S ratio of 0.1.

Dole recently reported its first quarter 2010 results. The company announced EBITDA of $85 million compared to $122 million in the first quarter of 2009. Net revenue was $1.606 billion compared to $1.597 billion in the first quarter of 2009.

Ron Baron owns 5,682,100 shares as of 03/31/2010, which accounts for 0.44% of the $15.33 billion portfolio of Baron Funds. David Williams owns 2,250,000 shares as of 03/31/2010, which accounts for 0.37% of the $5.51 billion portfolio of Columbia Value and Restructuring Fund.

Buy:: VP & CFO Joseph S. Tesoriero bought 2,000 shares of DOLE stock on 05/13/2010 at the average price of 9.94, the price of the stock has decreased by 4.93% since. Other insiders have also increased their positions in the company.

Prospect Capital Corp. (PSEC, Financial): CEO John F Barry Bought 33,922 Shares

CEO of Prospect Capital Corp. (PSEC) John F Barry bought 33,922 shares on 05/13/2010 at an average price of $10.16. Prospect Capital Corporation is a closed-end investment company that lends to and invests in private and microcap public businesses. Prospect Capital Corp. has a market cap of $646.1 million; its shares were traded at around $10.16 with a P/E ratio of 11.4 and P/S ratio of 6.4. The dividend yield of Prospect Capital Corp. stocks is 16.2%. Prospect Capital Corp. had an annual average earning growth of 36.8% over the past 5 years.

On 05/10/10, Prospect Capital Corporation announced financial results for its third fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2010. For the three and nine months ended March 31, 2010, net investment income was $19.0 million and $48.2 million, respectively, or 30 cents and 85 cents, respectively, per weighted average share outstanding for the periods then ended. Our net investment income increased 12%, and our net investment income per share increased 3%, from the quarter ended December 31, 2009 to the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

Buy:: Family Insider Matthew C. Barry bought 450 shares of PSEC stock on 05/13/2010 at the average price of 11.04, the price of the stock has decreased by 7.97% since. Other insiders have also increased their postions in the company.

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