Insider Trading March 17, 2026

Eastern Co Director Adds to Stake, Buys $35,936 of Shares

James A. Mitarotonda increases direct holding as company navigates earnings and valuation signals

By Marcus Reed EML
Eastern Co Director Adds to Stake, Buys $35,936 of Shares
EML

James A. Mitarotonda, a director and ten percent owner of Eastern Co (NYSE: EML), bought 1,717 common shares on March 16, 2026, paying $20.93 per share for a total of $35,936. The purchase raised his direct stake to 44,511 shares while he also retains a significant indirect position through Barington Companies Equity Partners, L.P. The move comes amid mixed company results and a market capitalization of roughly $124 million that InvestingPro currently lists as trading below its Fair Value.

Key Points

  • James A. Mitarotonda bought 1,717 Eastern Co common shares on March 16, 2026, spending $35,936 at $20.93 per share.
  • After the purchase, Mitarotonda directly owns 44,511 shares and indirectly holds 642,342 shares through Barington Companies Equity Partners, L.P.; Eastern Co's market cap is about $124 million and InvestingPro lists it as trading below Fair Value.
  • Eastern Co’s Q4 2025 results missed expectations: EPS $0.31 versus $0.36 expected (13.89% shortfall) and revenue $57.5 million versus $68.68 million expected (16.28% shortfall), followed by a slight dip in the stock price.

James A. Mitarotonda, who serves on the board of Eastern Co and is a ten percent owner, completed a purchase of 1,717 common shares of the company on March 16, 2026, according to a Form 4 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The shares were acquired at $20.93 each, bringing the transaction total to $35,936.

Following the trade, Mitarotonda now directly holds 44,511 common shares. The filing also shows he maintains a sizable indirect position: 642,342 shares are owned through Barington Companies Equity Partners, L.P.

The insider purchase occurred while Eastern Co, which has an approximate market capitalization of $124 million, is trading below InvestingPro's Fair Value estimate. The company appears on InvestingPro’s list of most undervalued stocks based on that assessment. InvestingPro data cited in the filing also notes Eastern Co has paid dividends for 56 consecutive years and currently yields 2.14%.

For investors seeking additional context, a Pro Research Report covering Eastern Co is available on InvestingPro, alongside reports for more than 1,400 other U.S. equities.

These ownership updates arrive against the backdrop of the company’s fourth-quarter 2025 financial results, which missed analysts’ expectations. Eastern Co reported earnings per share of $0.31, below the $0.36 analysts had forecast, reflecting a 13.89% negative surprise. Revenue for the quarter was $57.5 million, trailing the expected $68.68 million and reflecting a 16.28% shortfall.

The earnings announcement was followed by a modest decline in Eastern Co’s stock price. The combination of a below-expectations quarter and the subsequent share-price movement has drawn attention from investors, and analysts will likely continue to monitor the company’s performance closely in the coming quarters.


Transaction details

  • Insider: James A. Mitarotonda, Director and ten percent owner
  • Date: March 16, 2026
  • Securities: 1,717 common shares
  • Price: $20.93 per share
  • Transaction total: $35,936
  • Direct ownership after transaction: 44,511 shares
  • Indirect ownership via Barington Companies Equity Partners, L.P.: 642,342 shares

Note: The information above is drawn from the Form 4 filing and InvestingPro data cited in that filing.

Risks

  • Recent quarterly results missed analyst expectations on both EPS and revenue, signaling near-term financial performance risk that could affect investor sentiment and equity valuation.
  • The company experienced a modest decline in its share price after the earnings release, indicating potential share-price volatility in response to continuing operational or market developments.
  • Given the revenue and earnings shortfalls, uncertainty remains about the company’s ability to meet market expectations in upcoming quarters, which could influence decisions by dividend-focused or value-oriented investors.

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