We recently published a list of Insiders Are Spending Big: 15 Stocks Leading in March. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:AUPH) stands against other stocks that are receiving the most insider investment in March.

“The economy is strong overall and has made significant progress toward our goals over the past two years,” Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said during a press conference Wednesday following the decision announcement. “Labor market conditions are solid, and inflation has moved closer to our 2% longer-run goal, though it remains somewhat elevated.”

The Fed announced on Wednesday that it would maintain the federal funds rate at its current range of 4.25% to 4.5%. It is also keeping its outlook at two rate cuts for the remainder of this year, writes CNBC.

However, the Fed also announced that “uncertainty around the economic outlook has increased.”

Following the announcement, the broader market index rose 1.08%, blue-chip companies gained 0.92% and the NASDAQ Composite jumped 1.41%.

Despite political and economic uncertainty, some analysts remain bullish on AI’s growth. Insider trading draws attention in such times, as executives have unique company insights. For example, when a CEO or CFO buys stock, it may suggest confidence in the company’s future.

However, insider selling doesn’t always signal a lack of faith—it may be due to personal financial needs or asset diversification. Executives often use pre-set plans, like 10b5-1, to ensure transparency and avoid any perception of misconduct.

While insider trading can offer hints, it should be viewed alongside other factors like financial health, market trends, and industry shifts.

Our Methodology

Using Insider Monkey’s insider trading screener, we identified stocks with the highest insider purchase values in March.

Our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds, focusing on insider trading and stock picks from hedge fund investor newsletters and conferences. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).

For each stock, we provide details on the total value of insider purchases this month and the company’s current market capitalization.

A scientist using a microscope to inspect a tissue sample in a research lab setting.

Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:AUPH)

Total Value of Insider Purchases In March: $9.58 million

Market Capitalization: $1.15 billion

Aurinia Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing treatments for autoimmune diseases, where the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues. The company offers LUPKYNIS for lupus nephritis and is developing AUR200 to address other autoimmune conditions. It is also one of the 10 best small-cap growth stocks to buy now.

For the full year 2024, Aurinia reported total revenue of $235.1 million, up 34% from $175.5 million in 2023. Net product sales were $216.2 million, up 36% from $158.5 million in 2023, and net income amounted to $5.8 million, compared to a net loss of $78.0 million in 2023.

In March, one insider bought a total of $9.58 million worth of Aurinia shares at an average price of $8.00 per share. Currently, the stock trades at $8.43 per share, having lost 6.13% year-to-date. However, over the past 12 months, Aurinia returned 64.01% to its investors.

TipRanks reports that four analysts rate Aurinia Pharmaceuticals as a “Strong Buy,” with a 12-month average price target of $9.75, up 15.73% from the latest price.

Overall, AUPH ranks 15th on our list of stocks that are receiving the most insider investment in March. While we acknowledge the potential of AUPH, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than AUPH but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.