Gulfport Energy Insider Sells $881K as Stock Trails S&P 500 This Past Year

Core Insights - Gulfport Energy Corporation reported a significant insider sale by senior vice president Lester Zitkus, who sold 4,745 shares for approximately $881,087.70 on January 7 [1][2] - The sale represents 37.76% of Zitkus's directly held shares, indicating a material reduction in his ownership [6] - Despite the insider sale, Gulfport continues to show strong operational performance, with a third-quarter net income of $111.4 million and adjusted EBITDA of $213.1 million [9] Company Overview - Gulfport Energy Corporation is an independent exploration and production company focused on natural gas and liquids-rich resource plays, primarily operating in the Utica Shale and SCOOP regions [5][7] - The company reported a total revenue of $1.25 billion and a net income of $22.15 million for the trailing twelve months (TTM) [4] Transaction Details - The transaction was executed at a weighted average sale price of $185.69 per share, with Zitkus retaining 7,821 shares valued at approximately $1.45 million post-transaction [2][6] - The sale size of 4,745 shares exceeds Zitkus's recent median sell size of 3,329 shares, indicating a larger than typical disposition [6] Market Performance - Gulfport shares have decreased by about 6% over the past year, underperforming the S&P 500's gain of approximately 18% [10] - The insider sale is viewed as procedural rather than indicative of a loss of conviction, as the company emphasizes balance-sheet strength and capital returns [10]