Insider Trading May 20, 2026 05:01 PM

Latham Group Director's Significant Stock Purchase Amid Market Concerns

SEC filings reveal James E. Cline acquiring $242,000 worth of SWIM shares as the company trades near 52-week lows.

By Marcus Reed SWIM

A recent SEC filing indicates that James E. Cline, a director at Latham Group, Inc., purchased $242,000 in common stock on May 19, 2026. This activity occurs while the stock is trading significantly below its recent historical levels and following an earnings report that disappointed analyst expectations.

Latham Group Director's Significant Stock Purchase Amid Market Concerns
SWIM

Key Points

  • Insider buying activity: Director James E. Cline acquired $242,000 in SWIM stock on May 19, 2026.
  • Financial performance mixed: Latham Group reported a net loss of $0.07 per share for Q1 2026, missing analyst expectations ($0.04 loss).
  • Revenue growth persists: Despite the earnings miss, the company's revenue increased 5% year-over-year to $117 million.

Latham Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SWIM) saw a noteworthy transaction reported by director James E. Cline. According to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mr. Cline acquired shares of the company's common stock valued at $242,000 on May 19, 2026.

The specific details of this acquisition show that Mr. Cline purchased a total of 50,000 shares. These shares were bought through multiple transactions throughout the day, resulting in a weighted average purchase price of $4.84 per share. The individual transaction prices observed ranged between $4.805 and $4.84, and these newly acquired shares are held indirectly via the Cynthia L. Cline Revocable Trust.

This buying activity occurs against a backdrop of market weakness for Latham Group. The stock is currently trading near its 52-week low of $4.64, which represents a substantial decline of 22% over the past six months. Despite this downward trend, some third-party analysis suggests that at current price levels, the stock may be undervalued.


Director Holdings and Recent Financial Performance

Beyond the recent purchase, Mr. Cline's indirect holdings through the James E. Cline Revocable Trust include 455,883 shares of Latham Group common stock. Additionally, he maintains a direct holding of 211,978 shares of Latham Group common stock.

More broadly, Latham Group recently reported its first-quarter earnings for 2026. The company disclosed a net loss amounting to $0.07 per share. This result failed to meet the projections set by financial analysts, who had anticipated a smaller net loss of $0.04 per share. Despite this miss in earnings expectations, the company did report positive growth in its revenue stream, achieving an 117 million dollar total, which marked a 5% increase compared to the previous year.

The combination of the disappointing earnings figures and the missed analyst expectations resulted in a substantial negative surprise rating of 75%. The market's reaction was mixed following these disclosures. Initially, the stock saw a slight uptick during after-hours trading; however, this positive momentum reversed with a subsequent decline observed during premarket trading.


Analysis and Context

The reported director transaction alongside the company's financial reports highlights several current market dynamics for Latham Group. The acquisition of shares by an insider while the stock trades near its low suggests a degree of confidence from key personnel, despite broader negative signals. However, the mixed market reaction to the Q1 2026 results and the reported net loss underscore ongoing financial challenges facing the company.