Jason Sirkel Sells Shares of STEL

On July 1, 2026, Jason Sirkel, the Chief Banking Officer of STEL, sold 65,535 shares. This transaction was not part of a pre-planned trading program. Despite the sale, it's important to note that insider selling can occur for various reasons unrelated to the company's performance.

Insider Buying and Selling at Stellar Bancorp, Inc.

Several other insiders at STEL also sold shares on July 1, 2026. Justin Long, SEVP, GC & Secretary, sold 53,093 shares. Joe West, Senior Executive VP, CCO, offloaded 102,193 shares, while Okan Akin, Senior Executive VP, CRO, parted with 85,951 shares. Additionally, Paul Egge, Senior Executive VP, CFO, sold 68,594 shares, and Robert Franklin Jr, the CEO, sold 418,843 shares. None of these transactions were conducted under Rule 10b5-1 plans.

Other Institutional Activity in STEL

Institutional investors have been active in STEL as well. BlackRock, Inc. increased its holdings by 10,111 shares, bringing its total to 6,747,686 shares, valued at approximately $247.03 million. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP added 154,135 shares for a 6.6% increase, totaling 2,499,218 shares worth about $91.49 million. State Street Corp grew its position by 54,797 shares, reaching a total of 2,128,169 shares valued at $77.91 million. Vanguard Capital Management LLC opened a new position with 2,034,503 shares, valued at around $74.48 million. Meanwhile, Balyasny Asset Management L.P. significantly boosted its stake by 1,224,367 shares, marking a 1,754% increase to 1,294,172 shares, worth approximately $47.38 million.

Stellar Bancorp, Inc. Stock Holds Steady

Shares of STEL traded near $39.32 on Wednesday. The stock's recent activity has been influenced by various factors, including insider sales and institutional interest. Analysts have also been weighing in, with Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgrading their rating to 'buy' and setting a price target of $44.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

On February 3, 2026, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded STEL to a 'buy' rating with a $44 price target. This reflects a positive outlook from the firm. Overall, the analyst consensus for STEL suggests a mixed view, with a range of ratings from 'hold' to 'buy'.

Bottom Line

The recent insider selling activity at STEL, including the sale by Chief Banking Officer Jason Sirkel, is noteworthy but not necessarily indicative of the company's future performance. Institutional investors have shown varied levels of interest, with some increasing their positions significantly. Analysts have also provided mixed ratings, with some firms seeing potential upside. As always, these developments should be considered in the context of broader market conditions and individual investment strategies.