Twin Disc CEO Continues Monthly Sell‑Offs as Backlog Booms, Yet Stock Holds Near 52‑Week High

Insider Selling Continues Amid a Strong Backlog

Twin Disc Inc. (TWIN) has once again seen its president and chief executive officer, John Batten, off‑load 1,500 shares on February 12, 2026, as part of a broader pattern of sell‑side activity that has persisted over the past year. The transaction, conducted at $18.21 per share, brought his post‑trade holdings to 483,934 shares—slightly below the 500,000‑share threshold that triggers a mandatory 10‑billion‑dollar filing. This sale is the most recent of a series of monthly sales that began in September 2025, when he divested 15,000 shares at $13.10. The frequency and timing of these sales raise questions about whether the executive is simply normalizing his portfolio or reacting to short‑term market movements.

What Does This Mean for Investors?

From a price‑to‑earnings standpoint, Twin Disc trades at 11.78, comfortably below the industry average for machinery makers. Yet the stock is currently just $0.93 shy of its 52‑week high, and the company has reported a record backlog that supports a bullish outlook. When an insider who has overseen that growth sells shares, investors often interpret the action as either a confidence‑boosting “portfolio balancing” maneuver or a signal that the executive believes the current valuation is adequate. The absence of a strong negative sentiment on social media (sentiment = 0) and low buzz (0 %) suggests that the market has not yet reacted dramatically to the sale. Still, the cumulative effect of multiple sales—especially in a company that has been on a bullish trajectory—could weigh on short‑term sentiment, prompting a modest pullback in the next few trading sessions.

Batten’s Transactional Profile

John Batten’s insider history paints the picture of a disciplined investor who sells in tranches rather than a single block. Over the past 18 months he has sold 70,000 shares, roughly 14 % of his total holdings, at an average price of $16.30. He has also purchased restricted stock units and common shares in the same period, indicating a balanced approach to risk and reward. The most recent sale at $18.21 is close to the current market price, suggesting he is not attempting to “short the stock.” His pattern of selling shortly after earnings announcements—most recently after the February 4 earnings call—could reflect a desire to lock in gains when the company’s backlog narrative is freshest in the headlines.

Strategic Outlook for Twin Disc

Twin Disc’s recent earnings call highlighted a record backlog and a clear growth strategy targeting marine, energy, and government markets. The company’s 52‑week high was reached last month, and the price‑to‑book ratio of 1.30 signals that investors are still willing to pay a premium for the firm’s future prospects. The steady insider selling, while not alarming, may suggest that the company’s leadership is comfortable with the current valuation and is positioning themselves for a potential future upside once the backlog conversion translates into revenue growth. For investors, the key take‑away is that Twin Disc remains fundamentally solid, and the insider activity is likely a normal part of portfolio management rather than a harbinger of impending volatility.