Weekly Top Insider Buys: AA, ESL, BGR, BTH, MEI

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Jul 18, 2011
Weekly highlight of top insider buys: Alcoa Inc. (AA, Financial), Esterline Technologies Corp. (ESL, Financial), BlackRock Global Energy & Resources Trust (BGR, Financial), Blyth Inc. (BTH, Financial), and Methode Electronics Inc. (MEI, Financial).

Alcoa Inc. (AA): Director Ratan Tata Bought 1,208 Shares



Director of Alcoa Inc., Ratan Tata, bought 1,208 shares on 7/14/2011 at an average price of $15.48. Alcoa Inc. is the world's producer and manager of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina facilities, and is active in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa Inc. has a market cap of $16.43 billion; its shares were traded at around $15.48 with a P/E ratio of 21.8 and P/S ratio of 0.8. The dividend yield of Alcoa Inc. stocks is 0.8%.


On July 11, Alcoa Inc. reported results for the second quarter of 2011. Income from continuing operations was $326 million for second quarter 2011, or $0.28 per share. Excluding the negative impact for special items of $38 million, income from continuing operations was $364 million, or $0.32 per share. Second quarter 2011 income from continuing operations was up 138 percent from second quarter 2010 income of $137 million, or $0.13 per share, and up 6 percent from first quarter 2011 income of $309 million, or $0.27 per share.


Alcoa Inc. is in the portfolios of Kenneth Fisher, Mario Gabelli, Richard Snow, James Barrow, and Dodge & Cox.


This month, Director Ratan Tata bought 1,208 shares of AA stock on 07/14/2011 at the average price of 15.49. Executive Vice President Helmut Wieser and Executive Vice President John G. Thuestad sold shares in May.


Esterline Technologies Corp. (ESL): Director Delores M. Etter Bought 1,235 Shares



Director of Esterline Technologies Corp., Delores M. Etter bought 1,235 shares on 7/12/2011 at an average price of $78.17. Esterline Technologies Corporation is a specialized engineering and manufacturing company principally serving aerospace and defense markets. Esterline Technologies Corp. has a market cap of $2.39 billion; its shares were traded at around $78.17 with a P/E ratio of 14.7 and P/S ratio of 1.6. Esterline Technologies Corp. had an annual average earnings growth of 12.8% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus rated Esterline Technologies Corp. the business predictability rank of 2.5-star.


On June 1, Esterline Technologies Corporation reported fiscal 2011 second quarter (ended April 29) income from continuing operations of $46.0 million, or $1.47 per diluted share, on sales of $435.3 million. This represents a 13.8% growth in sales over last year’s $382.5 million, and a 57.9% growth in income over last year’s $29.1 million. Diluted earnings per share of $1.47 were up 50% over the prior year’s level of $0.96 per diluted share.


Esterline Technologies Corp. is in the portfolios of Joel Greenblatt, Kenneth Fisher, and David Dreman.


This past week, Director Delores M. Etter bought 1,235 shares of ESL stock. VP Strategy & Technology Stephen R. Larson sold 12,000 shares in May.


BlackRock Global Energy & Resources Trust (BGR): Director Dick Davis Bought 42,150 Shares

Director of BlackRock Global Energy & Resources Trust, Dick Davis, bought 42,150 shares during the past week at an average price of $29.71. Blackrock Global Energy & Resources Trust has a market cap of $1.72 billion; its shares were traded at around $29.71. The dividend yield of Blackrock Global Energy & Resources Trust stocks is 3.6%.


On July 7, BlackRock Inc. announced that it will report results for the second quarter of 2011 prior to the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, July 20, 2011.


This month, Director Dick Davis bought 5,100 shares of BGR stock. Director Michael J. Castellano bought 400 shares in May.


Blyth Inc. (BTH): Director Pamela M. Goergen Bought 400,000 Shares

Director of Blytch Inc., Pamela M. Goergen, bought 400,000 shares on 7/11/2011 at an average price of $62. Blyth Inc. operates in the home fragrance products market. Blyth Inc. has a market cap of $510.4 million; its shares were traded at around $62 with a P/E ratio of 21.3 and P/S ratio of 0.5. The dividend yield of Blyth Inc. stocks is 0.4%.


On June 3, Blyth Inc. reported net sales for the first quarter ended April 30, 2011 of $185.5 million versus $185.3 million for the prior year period. The effect of foreign currency translation on first quarter sales was insignificant. International sales represented 48% of first quarter sales this year versus 53% last year. Operating profit for the first quarter was $3.0 million this year versus $10.4 million last year.


This month, Chairman of the Board and CEO, 10% Owner Robert B. Goergen and Director Pamela M. Goergen bought shares of BTH stock. Director Howard E. Rose sold 2,000 shares this month.


Methode Electronics Inc. (MEI): Director Stephen F. Gates Bought 4,500 Shares



Director of Methode Electronics Inc., Stephen F. Gates, bought 4,500 shares on 7/15/2011 at an average price of $10.58. Methode Electronics, Inc. manufactures component devices world-wide for Original Equipment Manufacturers of information processing and networking equipment, voice and data communications systems, consumer electronics, automobiles, aerospace vehicles and industrial equipment. Methode Electronics Inc. has a market cap of $390.9 million; its shares were traded at around $10.58 with a P/E ratio of 19.1 and P/S ratio of 0.9. The dividend yield of Methode Electronics Inc. stocks is 2.7%.


On June 30, Methode Electronics Inc. announced financial results for the fiscal 2011 fourth quarter and year ended April 30, 2011. Methode's fourth-quarter fiscal 2011 net sales increased $22.8 million, or 23.6 percent, to $119.4 million from $96.6 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010. Net income attributable to Methode Electronics, Inc. decreased $6.0 million to $10.1 million, or $0.27 per share, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 from $16.1 million, or $0.44 per share, in the same period of fiscal 2010.


Methode Electronics Inc. is in the portfolios of John Keeley, James Barrow, and Mario Gabelli.


This month, CEO Donald W. Duda, CFO Douglas A. Koman, Director Stephen F. Gates, Sr. VP Worldwide Automotive Thomas D. Reynolds, VP&GM NA Automotive Timothy Glandon, Controller & Treasurer Ronald L.g. Tsoumas, and Director Paul G. Shelton bought shares of MEI stock.


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