Vestis Corporation - Vestis Corporation, spun off from Aramark in late 2023, is equal in size to UniFirst but less than a third of Cintas, making it a potential merger or buyout target [1] - The uniform industry remains fragmented despite years of consolidation, with Cintas as a potential buyer [1] - Several buyout firms have expressed interest in Vestis, but no firm offers are on the table [1] - Insiders have been actively buying Vestis shares in 2024, with nine insiders making 14 purchases, bringing their total holding to over 13% [9] - Institutional ownership of Vestis reached nearly 98% by late December 2024 [9] - Vestis pays a healthy dividend, less than 25% of its earnings, and has a solid balance sheet [20] OPKO Health - OPKO Health has numerous catalysts that could drive its share price up in 2025, including potential approvals for its key therapy, acquisitions, and normalization of its diagnostic business [11] - Analysts are optimistic about OPKO Health, with a consensus "Buy" rating and a projected 90% upside [11] - Insider activity in OPKO Health includes 24 purchases by seven insiders in 2024, making it the second most bought stock for the year [4] - However, the company has issued shares to raise capital, increasing the share count by more than 32%, and the 60, reinforced by insider buying at the low end of the range [12] - Insiders buying Greif shares include the CEO, CFO, and several directors [12] - Analysts view Greif as a deep value stock, with a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating and a potential upside of 10% to 20% [13] - Greif pays a dividend yield of 3.57% and has a price target of $78.67 [12] Institutional Activity - Institutions have been net buyers of shares in CQ1, Q2, and Q3 2024, with the largest shareholder being activist hedge fund Corvex Management, which owns more than 13% of the stock [2] - Institutional ownership of Greif is around 50%, with activity in 2024 aligning with buying at the low end and selling at the high end of the range [16] - Institutional activity in Q4 2024 is bullish, suggesting a potential rebound in the stock price [16] Industry Insights - The uniform industry remains fragmented, with Cintas as the industry leader and a potential buyer for Vestis [1] - Cintas is an example of a company capable of sustaining dividend payments, share buybacks, and self-funding growth [10] - Insider activity is significant in companies like Vestis, OPKO Health, and Greif, signaling higher-than-average conviction in the share price outlook [19]
3 Stocks That Wall Street Insiders Can't Stop Buying