Innovative Solutions’ Top Executives Buy Big, Signaling Bullish Confidence in a Defense‑Driven Future

Insider Grants, Not Sales – A Signal of Confidence On February 17, 2026, CEO Askarpour Shahram added a sizable bundle of incentive awards to his portfolio: 20,171 Restricted Stock Units, 34,364 Non‑Qualified Stock Options and 20,171 Performance Stock Units, all at no cash outlay. The move is a classic “buy‑to‑hold” strategy rather than a liquidity event, suggesting the executive believes the company’s trajectory will continue upward. The grant dates coincide with the company’s 2019 Stock‑Based Incentive Compensation Plan, which aligns management’s interests with shareholders over the long term.

Market‑wide Insider Activity Reinforces the Narrative In the same filing window, CFO Jeffrey DiGiovanni also executed a trio of equity‑based purchases, acquiring nearly 9,500 RSUs, 16,108 options and 9,455 performance units. This cohort of high‑level insiders simultaneously expanding their equity positions indicates a unified view that the firm’s valuation will rise. Historically, the CEO’s only cash‑based trade was a sale of 2,128 common shares in January, which reduced his holdings to 482,271 shares. The absence of recent sell‑offs, coupled with the new award package, points to a bullish outlook.

Implications for Investors The timing of these grants is critical: the share price was $23.52 on the filing date, within 1 % of its 52‑week high of $24.10. With a 16.3 % weekly gain and a 205 % annual return, the stock is already outperforming many peers in aerospace and defense. For investors, the insider activity signals confidence in continued product demand and potential revenue growth from military and commercial aviation contracts. However, the awards are vesting‑based and subject to performance conditions, meaning actual dilution will depend on future earnings targets and market conditions.

Askarpour Shahram – A Profile of Patience and Commitment Shahram’s historical trade record shows a pattern of long‑term equity accumulation: after the January sale, he has not sold any common shares since. His recent incentive awards are the largest tranche of any insider in 2026, reflecting both his tenure (CEO since 2019) and the company’s reliance on his leadership. The mix of RSUs, options, and performance units is typical for executives seeking to balance guaranteed upside (RSUs) with upside potential (options) and incentive alignment (performance units).

Looking Ahead With a strong price‑to‑earnings ratio of 19.66, a market cap of $380 million and a robust product pipeline, Innovative Solutions and Support Inc. appears well positioned to capitalize on defense spending momentum. Insider purchases, particularly from the top echelons, provide a positive signal to the market. Investors should watch for the vesting milestones of these awards and any subsequent earnings releases for further confirmation of the company’s growth trajectory.