SMCI Stock Drops After Insider Sales: Buy or Sell?

Supermicro AI stock

Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ:SMCI) has been one of the hottest AI infrastructure stocks in 2024, surging alongside the artificial intelligence boom. However, recent insider selling by key executives, including CEO Charles Liang, has raised concerns among investors. After a sharp rally earlier this year, SMCI stock has given back some of its gains. Should investors be worried, or is this an opportunity to buy on the dip?

SMCI Stock Recovers from Nasdaq Delisting Risk

Super Micro Computer faced significant uncertainty in early 2024 after a series of financial reporting delays put its Nasdaq listing in jeopardy. A report from Hindenburg Research alleging accounting issues further fueled volatility, leading to a steep sell-off.

The company managed to regain investor confidence by filing its overdue annual (10-K) and quarterly (10-Q) reports on February 25. These filings revealed that revenue for fiscal 2024 more than doubled to nearly $14.99 billion, with net income reaching $1.15 billion.

For the first quarter of fiscal 2025, SMCI reported $5.94 billion in revenue—an impressive 180% year-over-year increase—with a gross margin of 13.1%. However, Q2 revenue dipped slightly to $5.68 billion, with gross margins contracting to 11.8%.

Despite the mixed results, Super Micro reaffirmed its ambitious revenue target of $40 billion for fiscal 2026, alongside a projection of $23.5 billion to $25 billion for fiscal 2025. With accounting concerns largely behind it, SMCI stock appeared to be on solid footing.

CEO Charles Liang Sells Shares—Should Investors Worry?

As SMCI stock rebounded following the financial report, top executives took the opportunity to sell shares. Here’s a breakdown of recent insider sales:

CEO Charles Liang sold 46,293 shares at an average price of $50.17, totaling $2.32 million. This reduced his ownership by just 0.07%.

Senior VP George Kao sold 71,720 shares at an average price of $50.48, netting $3.62 million. This represented a significant 78.67% reduction in his holdings.

Director Robert L. Blair sold 19,460 shares at an average price of $43.46, cashing out his entire stake in SMCI stock.

Is SMCI Stock Still a Buy?

Following these insider sales, SMCI stock pulled back and is currently trading around $39. While some investors see insider selling as a red flag, the context matters.

Liang’s sale represents a tiny fraction of his total holdings, which suggests it was likely routine profit-taking rather than a loss of confidence in the company. However, the large reduction in shares held by Kao and Blair could indicate less optimism about SMCI’s near-term growth.

That said, Super Micro remains one of the most attractive AI infrastructure plays on the market. It is a leader in high-performance computing and AI-optimized servers, which are in high demand as companies ramp up their artificial intelligence capabilities.

Analyst Sentiment and Price Targets

Despite recent volatility, Wall Street analysts remain cautiously optimistic about SMCI stock:

The average price target is $57.46, implying an upside of approximately 47% from current levels.

Analysts have mixed ratings, with some seeing it as a “Hold” and others expecting further gains.

Final Thoughts

While insider selling often raises concerns, Liang’s transaction appears to be a standard move rather than a sign of deeper trouble. Super Micro has positioned itself as a major player in the AI and data center industry, and its long-term prospects remain strong.

For investors comfortable with volatility, SMCI stock could offer an attractive buying opportunity at current levels. However, those with a lower risk tolerance may want to wait for further confirmation of financial stability and market trends before jumping in.

Featured Image: Freepik

Please See Disclaimer

About the author: Stephanie Bédard-Châteauneuf has over seven years of experience writing financial content for various websites. Over the years, Stephanie has covered various industries, with a primary focus on tech stocks, consumer stocks, market news, and personal finance. She has an MBA in finance.