Insider Activity Spotlight: Poulton Stuart’s Recent Sale at Karyopharm

Poulton Stuart, EVP and Chief Development Officer, executed a broker‑assisted sale of 378 shares on February 17, 2026, pursuant to a durable automatic sale instruction plan. The transaction was not discretionary; it was a routine liquidation to cover withholding taxes on vested restricted stock units. While the sale amount—$8.63 per share—was modest relative to the company’s market cap ($169 M), it reflects a pattern of disciplined, low‑volume trades that have kept Stuart’s holdings near 100,000 shares over the past year.

What Does This Mean for Investors?

Stuart’s buying spree in January—acquiring 32,415 shares on February 3—followed by a small sell in mid‑September, suggests a long‑term confidence in Karyopharm’s oncology pipeline. The recent sell is essentially a tax‑mitigation move, not a signal of declining optimism. For investors, the key takeaway is that senior management’s net positions have remained largely flat, indicating stability in leadership commitment. The broader insider landscape—highlighted by large purchases from CEO Richard Paulson and CFO Lori Macomber—reinforces a bullish stance on the company’s prospects, particularly as Karyopharm’s combination therapies gain traction in multiple myeloma and other solid tumors.

Stuart’s Transaction Profile

Across the last 12 months, Stuart has alternated between large buys (e.g., 39,682 shares in October 2025) and modest sells (e.g., 191 shares in July 2025). His trades are almost exclusively at the bid price, with no disclosed premiums, and the timing aligns with vesting schedules rather than market timing. This pattern is typical for executives under vesting plans: they sell to cover taxes or diversify holdings without impacting the stock price. His most recent buy in early January 2026 increased his stake to 99,807 shares, just shy of the 100,000‑share threshold that would trigger a new disclosure cycle.

Future Outlook for Karyopharm

Karyopharm’s recent quarterly results and the strong performance of its dexamethasone‑combination therapy have buoyed the stock, which closed at $9.25 on February 17. The company’s 52‑week high of $10.38 and a 62.5 % month‑over‑month gain underscore a rally that insiders appear to support. As the company advances clinical milestones and seeks regulatory approvals, insider buying—particularly by top executives—can be seen as a positive barometer for long‑term growth. Investors should monitor upcoming clinical data and regulatory filings, but the current insider activity signals that leadership remains confident in the company’s trajectory.

Bottom Line

Poulton Stuart’s recent sale is a routine tax‑liquidation event within a broader context of steady insider ownership and positive sentiment. For investors, this stability, coupled with significant purchases by other senior executives, suggests continued confidence in Karyopharm’s oncology pipeline and a bullish outlook for the near term.

DateOwnerTransaction TypeSharesPrice per ShareSecurity
2026-02-17Poulton Stuart (EVP, Chief Development Officer)Sell378.008.63Common Stock