CEO Jay Roth Buys 5,000 Shares of Venu Holding Amid Heavy Past Sell‑Offs, Signaling Confidence in a Rebounding Live‑Event Business

Insider Buying Amid a Period of Heavy Selling

On January 30, 2026 the CEO and chairman, Jay Roth, added 5,000 shares of Venu Holding Corp. to his personal holdings at $5.55 per share. That purchase comes almost exactly two months after the company’s shares fell to a 52‑week low of $5.03 and after a string of large sales by Mr Roth in June and July 2025. While the transaction itself is modest relative to the total shares outstanding, the timing is noteworthy. It signals that the top executive remains confident in the long‑term trajectory of a firm that has struggled with profitability, as reflected by a negative P/E of –4.8 and a steep decline of 9.6 % year‑to‑date.

What This Means for Investors

The new buy can be interpreted as a “signal” rather than a decisive market move. For shareholders, it suggests that the management team sees a catalyst that could lift the stock above its recent lows—perhaps the expansion of the Roth’s Seafood & Chophouse line, a new venue lease, or a broader revival in live‑event demand as pandemic restrictions ease. However, the transaction’s size—just 0.002 % of the outstanding shares—limits any immediate impact on the price. Investors should therefore view it as a modest vote of confidence rather than a trigger for a rally, and monitor subsequent earnings guidance and operational updates for clearer direction.

Roth’s Insider Trading Pattern

Roth’s insider activity over the past year has been dominated by large sell‑offs, most of which occurred in mid‑2025 when the stock hovered around $12–13. In total, he divested roughly 45,000 shares during that period, reducing his personal stake from 9.3 million to 9.24 million. The most recent sales in July were smaller but still sizeable, totaling over 5,000 shares. The recent 5,000‑share purchase marks a reversal of that trend. Historically, Roth has used option grants (e.g., the 3 million‑share right to buy on 2026‑01‑20) to build equity, but the pattern of selling during peak pricing suggests a cautious approach to liquidity and a preference for balancing ownership with cash flow needs. The current purchase may therefore be a tactical move to maintain influence as the company navigates a challenging market environment.

Broader Insider Activity

Other insiders, such as COO Vic Sutter and CFO Heather Atkinson, have also been buying options and selling shares in the same window, indicating a mix of confidence and caution across the leadership team. The volume of options exercised (3 million shares for Mr Roth and 100,000 for Mr Sutter) points to a long‑term commitment to the company, even as the stock remains below its 52‑week high of $18.17. For the broader shareholder base, these actions reinforce the narrative that management is aligned with owners, though the negative earnings metrics and price‑to‑book ratio suggest that the company is still working to achieve sustainable profitability.

Bottom Line for the Market

In a sector where consumer discretionary spend is highly sensitive to economic cycles, insider buying signals a belief that Venu Holding Corp. can capture growth in the live‑event and hospitality space once market conditions improve. The CEO’s recent purchase, set against a backdrop of significant prior sales, underscores a measured, long‑term outlook. Investors should stay attuned to operational milestones—venue openings, revenue growth from the new restaurant concept, and any shifts in the company’s cost structure—while recognizing that the current share price remains far below its peak and the firm’s earnings remain negative.