Insider Trades: 2 ASX directors selling into strength and buying into weakness
Playside Studios CEO Gerry Sakkas picked up a small parcel of shares after the stock plunged 48% last week.
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Welcome back to the Insider Trades Series – A weekly summary of on-market ASX director transactions valued at more than $10,000. The trades have all taken place between 22 and 30 January. Directors have up to 5 business days to notify the ASX of their trades.
The volume of ASX 200 director transactions has been non-existent ahead of February reporting season, as companies enforce blackout periods restricting directors from buying or selling stock before earnings announcements. This trend extends to smaller companies as well, with limited buying — even among explorers and those not reporting results in February.
For this week, we're observing all the transaction made between 22 and 30 January.
Top ASX Insider Buys
Code | Company | Date | Director | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Playside Studios | 30/01/25 | $0.20 | $20,165 | ||
Techgen Metals | 24/01/25 | $0.04 | $17,370 | ||
Naos Emerging Opportunities Company | 23/01/25 | $0.37 | $8,979 | ||
Naos Small Cap Opportunities Company | 23/01/25 | $0.43 | $8,979 |
Playside CEO Buys the Dip
Shares in the video game developer tumbled 48% on Tuesday, 28 January after the company reported weaker-than-expected revenue for the first-half of FY25 and downgraded its full-year outlook. The key numbers include:
First-half FY25 revenue down 21% to $28.5m vs. $30m estimates (20% miss)
Full-year revenue guidance between $50-54m compared to prior guidance of $62-68m (20% downgrade)
Full-year EBITDA guidance between -$10m and -$6m compared to prior guidance of $0-5m
CEO Gerry Sakkas has stepped up with a small 100,000 parcel, representing the first insider buy since February 2024, when the stock was trading around 80 cents.
Top ASX 200 Insider Sells
Code | Company | Date | Director | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catalyst Metals | 24/01/25 | $3.52 | $263,703 | ||
Catalyst Metals | 23/01/25 | $3.48 | $260,652 | ||
Catalyst Metals | 22/01/25 | $3.40 | $272,013 | ||
Catalyst Metals | 21/01/25 | $3.45 | $274,477 |
Catalyst Metals' Non-Exec Selldown
Non-Executive Director Robin Scrimgeour has sold 309,499 shares worth over $1 million in company shares, marking the first insider sale since January 2022. The sale comes amid Catalyst's impressive performance as one of the standout gold stocks, with shares surging approximately 520% over the past twelve months.
The company maintains a strong position in the gold sector, operating two mines and controlling three Australian gold belts, with current annual production of 110,000 ounces. Looking ahead, Catalyst aims to significantly expand its operations, targeting annual gold production of 180-220,000 ounces by FY27 while reducing all-in sustaining costs from A$2,555 to A$2,000-2,200 per ounce.
While Scrimgeour's selldown might appear substantial, it's worth noting that he retains a significant stake in the company, still beneficially owning 10.1 million shares.
