Twist Bioscience COO Fires Off Rule‑Based Buy Plan as Top Execs Sell: Insider Confidence Amid Profit‑Free Growth Surge

Insider Buying Spikes Amid a Bullish Technical Run

Finn Patrick John, the President and COO, executed a Rule 10b5‑1 plan that bought 1 000 shares at $23.33, 1 500 shares at $26.66 and an additional 500 shares at the same price on February 12‑13, 2026. The purchases were made when Twist’s share price was just above its 52‑week high of $49.64, yet the trades were executed at a fraction of the market price, reflecting the 10‑day rule‑based plan that locks in buying at predetermined prices. This strategy signals confidence from a senior executive while protecting the company from allegations of market‑timing abuse.

What Does This Mean for Investors? The timing—just after a 9 % weekly gain and a 26 % monthly rally—suggests that the company’s new library‑prep platform is resonating with the market. The insider buys, coupled with a modest 0.05 % price bump on the filing day, hint at institutional faith that the biotech’s pipeline will sustain the upside. However, the negative earnings (P/E –38.35) mean the stock remains a growth play; investors should weigh the upside of the platform launch against the firm’s current lack of profitability.

Finn Patrick John’s Trading Pattern Across the past year, John has alternated between large‑volume sells (e.g., 23,279 shares at $40 in January) and strategic purchases (e.g., 79,785 shares at $0 on 28 Oct 2025). His 10b5‑1 buys are modest relative to his holdings—typically a few thousand shares—indicating a conservative approach that mitigates dilution risk. Historically, when John has sold, the price was often below the company’s 52‑week low, suggesting that he may be monetising positions during market stress rather than reacting to day‑to‑day moves. The recent buys, executed at $23‑$27, are far below the current market price, reinforcing the view that John’s plan is forward‑looking rather than opportunistic.

Company‑Wide Insider Activity Other executives, notably CFO Adam Laponis and CEO Emily Leproust, have also sold large blocks of shares, but their trades have been spaced out and at higher prices, reflecting a gradual divestiture strategy. The fact that the COO is adding shares while other top managers are offloading could be interpreted as a signal that the leadership believes the company is poised for a sustained rally—perhaps driven by the new enzymatic kits and an expanding customer base in functional genomics.

Bottom Line for Investors The COO’s Rule 10b5‑1 buys add a layer of confidence to Twist’s bullish technical picture, but investors should remain cognisant of the firm’s negative earnings and the fact that insider sales have occurred during prior downturns. For those who view Twist as a high‑growth, high‑risk biotech, the insider buying may reinforce a bullish thesis; for value‑oriented investors, the lack of earnings and the pattern of selling during low periods may warrant caution. As always, a disciplined assessment of the pipeline, market demand, and the company’s cash runway will be key to determining whether Twist can translate its technical gains into sustainable earnings.