Insider Trading February 21, 2026

NetScout Executive Sells $87,540 of Stock as Company Posts Strong Q3 Results

EVP John Downing disposes of 3,000 shares while NetScout posts earnings and revenue above expectations

By Nina Shah NTCT
NetScout Executive Sells $87,540 of Stock as Company Posts Strong Q3 Results
NTCT

NetScout Systems Executive Vice President for World-Wide Sales, John Downing, sold 3,000 shares on February 18, 2026, for $29.18 each, generating $87,540. The transaction occurred as the share price traded near a 52-week high. Separately, NetScout reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 results that exceeded analyst forecasts for both EPS and revenue.

Key Points

  • NetScout EVP John Downing sold 3,000 shares on February 18, 2026, at $29.18 per share, totaling $87,540.
  • After the sale Downing directly owns 132,494 shares and holds 43,200 Performance Stock Units; 25,920 unachieved PSUs were forfeited.
  • NetScout’s Q3 fiscal 2026 results beat expectations: EPS $1.00 vs. $0.86 expected (16.28% surprise) and revenue $250.7 million vs. $239.67 million expected (4.6% surprise).

John Downing, Executive Vice President, World-Wide Sales at NetScout Systems Inc (NASDAQ: NTCT), sold 3,000 shares of the company's common stock on February 18, 2026, at a price of $29.18 per share. The disposal generated gross proceeds of $87,540.

The sale took place while NetScout’s stock was trading close to its 52-week peak of $30.67, after a roughly 25% gain over the prior 12 months. Following the transaction, Downing retains direct ownership of 132,494 shares of NetScout common stock.

In addition to his directly held shares, Downing holds 43,200 Performance Stock Units (PSUs). The record shows that 25,920 unachieved PSUs were forfeited.

Separate analysis available through InvestingPro characterizes NTCT as appearing undervalued at current levels and notes the platform provides 12 additional ProTips and detailed financial metrics for users seeking deeper evaluation.

NetScout also released its third-quarter fiscal 2026 results, delivering an earnings-per-share (EPS) figure of $1.00, compared with analyst expectations of $0.86. That outcome represented a 16.28% surprise relative to the consensus forecast. Revenue for the quarter totaled $250.7 million versus an anticipated $239.67 million, a 4.6% positive surprise.

Despite the quarterly beats on both EPS and revenue, the company’s stock experienced a modest premarket decline. Market participants are watching these developments closely; the reported earnings and top-line figures are key metrics investors use to assess corporate financial health and near-term prospects.

Below are the central takeaways and observable uncertainties stemming from the reported insider sale and the quarterly financial release.


  • Insider transaction: Downing’s sale of 3,000 shares for $87,540 at $29.18 per share on February 18, 2026.
  • Holdings after sale: 132,494 directly owned shares and 43,200 PSUs, with 25,920 PSUs forfeited.
  • Quarterly results: Q3 fiscal 2026 EPS of $1.00 versus $0.86 expected (16.28% surprise); revenue of $250.7 million versus $239.67 million expected (4.6% surprise).

Investors and analysts monitoring NetScout will likely continue to track insider activity alongside the company’s reported financial performance, given both are commonly used signals in evaluating corporate trajectory.

Risks

  • Stock was trading near its 52-week high of $30.67, which may limit near-term upside for investors.
  • A notable portion of Performance Stock Units were forfeited (25,920), reducing potential future insider-aligned holdings.
  • Despite beating EPS and revenue estimates, the stock registered a slight premarket decline, indicating uncertain market reception to the results.

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