Ventas CEO Debra Cafaro Executes 10b5‑1 “Buy‑Sell” Playbook: $73.71 Purchase, $82.23 Sale, 10,322 Shares Each Day 6 Feb 2026.

Insider Activity at Ventas: A Snapshot of the CEO’s Trading Patterns

Recent Moves On February 6, 2026, Debra A. Cafaro, Ventas’ Chairman and CEO, executed a Rule 10b5‑1 purchase of 10,322 shares at an average price of $73.71, raising her post‑trade holdings to 1,124,356 shares. The same day she also sold 10,322 shares at $82.23, the highest price in her recent trading window, and exercised the matching option. The dual transact‑ion—buy and sell—within a single day reflects the pre‑planned nature of her 10b5‑1 strategy and underscores her intent to diversify holdings while managing exposure.

What This Means for Investors

1. Market‑Timing Signals? The purchase at $73.71 followed a near‑flat market price ($83.89 at filing), suggesting a long‑term view rather than opportunistic short‑term play. The concurrent sale at $82.23, just a day earlier, indicates that Cafaro is liquidating portions of her portfolio as part of a structured plan rather than reacting to insider sentiment.

2. Confidence in the Business The net effect is a modest increase in her stake, which investors often interpret as confidence in the company’s trajectory. Given Ventas’ strong quarterly momentum—52‑week highs approaching $84.10 and a 39.97 % year‑over‑year gain—her continued accumulation aligns with a bullish outlook.

3. Risk Management By executing both buy and sell trades under a Rule 10b5‑1 plan, Cafaro mitigates the risk of market timing accusations while maintaining liquidity. This disciplined approach can reassure shareholders that executive trades are governed by a transparent framework rather than discretionary timing.

Cafaro’s Trading Profile: Patterns and Persistence

A review of Cafaro’s insider filings over the last twelve months reveals a consistent strategy:

• High‑Frequency, Moderate‑Size Trades – Most transactions involve 10,322 shares, a round number that matches her option exercise amounts. This symmetry suggests a systematic approach tied to vesting schedules and option expirations.
• Strategic Buying at Lower Levels – Purchases have occurred at price points ranging from $65.45 to $77.71, often when the market is below the 52‑week low of $58.75 or near the 52‑week high of $84.10. This pattern indicates opportunistic buying during perceived undervaluation or after price dips.
• Regular Option Exercising – Cafaro consistently exercises fully vested options just before expiration (typically within the next 6 months). The subsequent sale of the underlying shares at a higher price demonstrates a disciplined profit‑taking routine.

In short, Cafaro’s trades are characterized by regularity, adherence to a pre‑set plan, and a clear separation between buying and selling activities, reducing the likelihood of insider market‑timing concerns.

Broader Insider Activity Context

Across Ventas, several senior executives—EVP and CFO Robert F. Probst, EVP and GC Roberts C. S., and EVP James J. Hutchens—have been liquidating positions in early February, reflecting a broader wave of portfolio rebalancing. While this trend could signal a shift in investor sentiment, the sheer volume of shares sold by Cafaro, combined with her systematic buying pattern, suggests that executive selling is more about personal portfolio management than a red flag for the company’s fundamentals.

Bottom Line for Stakeholders

• For Shareholders: Cafaro’s incremental accumulation, coupled with her disciplined trading framework, signals confidence in Ventas’ long‑term value creation.
• For Analysts: The dual buy‑sell pattern on February 6 aligns with a structured 10b5‑1 plan; it is not an indicator of impending corporate change.
• For the Market: The steady insider activity, set against a backdrop of robust quarterly performance, reinforces the narrative that Ventas is a stable, growth‑oriented REIT with a solid capital structure.

Keeping an eye on Cafaro’s future filings—especially any deviations from her established pattern—will be key to gauging whether the company’s trajectory shifts or remains firmly on course.