Petrus Trust Buys 853K Cricut Shares Amid Executive Sell‑off, Sending Mixed Signals to Investors

Insider Activity at Cricut: What the Latest Deal Signals

On February 13, 2026, the Petrus Trust Company, LTA’s investment vehicle, executed a “buy” transaction of 853,712 shares of Cricut’s Class A common stock through its partner PAM2. The transaction occurred at $4.58 per share, barely a 0.04 % dip from the close, and was announced with neutral sentiment and low social‑media buzz. While the volume is modest relative to Cricut’s daily turnover, the timing is noteworthy: it follows a string of substantial sales by senior executives—most prominently CEO Ashish Arora, who has sold over $3 billion worth of shares in 2025 alone. The new purchase, therefore, represents a rare buying signal from a major institutional shareholder amid a period of aggressive divestitures.

Implications for Investors

The buy by Petrus comes after the company’s 2025 fourth‑quarter earnings, which were expected to show a modest improvement in margin pressure, and ahead of the upcoming 2026 first‑quarter guidance. Petrus’s stake—now holding 853,712 Class A shares—constitutes roughly 0.09 % of the outstanding shares, a small but material slice for an institutional investor. The move may be interpreted as a confidence boost, suggesting that the trust believes Cricut’s valuation is still undervalued relative to its earnings potential. For investors, this can be a contrarian cue: while the stock has been under pressure (52‑week low $3.94, a 23.4 % YTD decline), the institutional buy may indicate an expectation of a rebound as the company’s product pipeline and subscription services mature.

Future Outlook for Cricut

Cricut’s fundamentals—P/E of 12.72, price-to-book of 2.73, and a market cap of $993 million—paint a picture of a company trading at a modest premium but still within reach of value investors. The recent insider activity, coupled with the company’s steady focus on expanding its cutting‑machine ecosystem and digital design platform, suggests a potential for incremental growth. However, the ongoing sell‑off by top executives underscores a lingering liquidity pressure, and the narrow trading range between the 52‑week high of $7.33 and low of $3.94 hints at volatility. Investors should weigh the institutional buy against the broader sell‑off and the company’s upcoming earnings to assess whether Cricut’s valuation has room to improve or if the market has already priced in the anticipated gains.

Conclusion

The Petrus Trust Company’s recent purchase marks a rare buying event in an otherwise sell‑heavy insider environment. For investors, it offers a possible point of entry, especially for those who view the stock’s current valuation as attractive relative to its earnings and book value. Yet the broader context—executive sell‑offs, a modest price trend, and limited market buzz—reminds us that insider activity is only one piece of the puzzle. Close monitoring of forthcoming earnings, product updates, and any further institutional moves will be essential to gauge whether Cricut can sustain an upward trajectory in the consumer‑discretionary space.