Insider Trading February 19, 2026

Aveanna CFO Disposes $266,097 of Stock to Cover Equity Tax Bills; Company Raises 2025 Guidance

Matthew Buckhalter sold 36,030 shares over three days in February as Aveanna updated revenue and EBITDA targets and drew analyst price-target increases

By Avery Klein AVAH
Aveanna CFO Disposes $266,097 of Stock to Cover Equity Tax Bills; Company Raises 2025 Guidance
AVAH

Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. Chief Financial Officer Matthew Buckhalter sold 36,030 shares of common stock between February 17 and February 19, 2026, for a total of $266,097. The disposals were executed to satisfy tax obligations arising from vested equity awards. The transactions occurred amid company guidance upgrades for 2025 and several analyst price-target increases.

Key Points

  • CFO Matthew Buckhalter sold a total of 36,030 Aveanna shares between February 17 and February 19, 2026, raising $266,097.
  • Sales were executed to cover tax obligations tied to vesting equity awards; post-transactions Buckhalter directly holds 529,243 shares.
  • Aveanna raised its 2025 revenue guidance to $2.425 billion - $2.445 billion and its 2025 adjusted EBITDA forecast to $318 million - $322 million; analysts increased price targets and one firm initiated coverage with an Outperform rating.

Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAH) Chief Financial Officer Matthew Buckhalter executed a sequence of stock sales totaling 36,030 shares of common stock over three trading days in mid-February 2026, generating $266,097 in proceeds.

According to transaction details, the first tranche occurred on February 17, when Buckhalter sold 9,351 shares at a weighted average price of $7.6451, with trade prices in that session spanning $7.47 to $7.97. The following day, February 18, he sold 13,167 shares at a weighted average of $7.3829, with individual trades ranging from $7.175 to $7.53. The final set of sales took place on February 19, when he sold 13,512 shares at a weighted average price of $7.2082, with prices in that session between $7.06 and $7.29.

The company noted that these dispositions were made to cover tax obligations associated with the vesting of equity awards. After completing the sales, Buckhalter retains direct ownership of 529,243 shares of Aveanna common stock.


Market context and recent performance

The insider sales occurred while Aveanna's share price has shown mixed recent performance. The stock has declined 6.4% over the last week and is down 9.2% year-to-date, while remaining up 54% on a 12-month basis. Separately, an InvestingPro analysis cited in company materials indicates the stock appears undervalued at current levels, with additional detail available to subscribers of that service.

Company guidance and analyst responses

Corporate updates around the same period included an upward revision to Aveanna's 2025 financial outlook. The company raised full-year 2025 revenue guidance to a range of $2.425 billion to $2.445 billion, up from a previous outlook of more than $2.375 billion. Likewise, 2025 adjusted EBITDA expectations were increased to $318 million to $322 million, versus an earlier projection of over $300 million.

Aveanna also introduced 2026 guidance, which management said exceeded consensus expectations during an industry event.

In response to the guidance and other company disclosures, a number of brokerages adjusted price targets while preserving ratings. UBS and RBC Capital raised their targets to $10 and $11, respectively, without altering their existing ratings. Raymond James lifted its price target to $13, citing a more favorable Home Health Final Rule and an improved review of debt-paydown timing. William Blair initiated coverage with an Outperform rating.


Implications

The reported insider selling was explicitly linked to tax liabilities from equity vesting rather than a stated change in personal views on the company. At the same time, the company’s upgraded revenue and EBITDA outlook for 2025 and the introduction of 2026 guidance have prompted several analysts to increase price targets and one firm to begin coverage with an Outperform stance.

Observers will likely weigh the tax-driven insider sales alongside the upgraded guidance and analyst reactions when assessing near-term sentiment around the shares.

Risks

  • Insider disposals, even when executed to meet tax obligations, can be interpreted negatively by market participants and may affect near-term share sentiment - impacts equity investors and the healthcare sector.
  • Short-term price volatility is evident: the stock declined 6.4% over the past week and is down 9.2% year-to-date despite a 54% gain over the last year - a risk for market participants relying on momentum.
  • Company outlook and analyst views are partially tied to regulatory and debt-timing factors such as the Home Health Final Rule and debt-paydown scheduling referenced by analysts, introducing policy and refinancing timing risk to healthcare investors.

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