What happened
Nordson Corporation (NASDAQ: NDSN) Executive Vice President Joseph P. Kelley sold company stock worth $6.6 million on February 23, 2026, according to a Form 4 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The sales were executed in multiple transactions with per-share prices ranging from $289.0 to $290.4.
Transaction details
The Form 4 discloses total shares sold of 21,384. Specific lots included 95 shares at $289.11, 92 shares at $289.08, and 758 shares at $289.00, among other tranches at slightly different prices within the stated range. On the same date Kelley exercised stock options to acquire 21,033 Nordson shares, with the exercise prices reported at $189.72 and $201.5, for an aggregate exercise value of $4,061,190.
Market context
Nordson shares have appreciated substantially recently, rising nearly 30% over the past six months and trading close to a 52-week high of $305.28. The filing and the market moves occurred while InvestingPro analysis flagged the shares as potentially overvalued at current levels.
Company performance and analyst reactions
Nordson reported first-quarter 2026 results that met consensus on earnings per share and exceeded revenue expectations. Reported EPS was $2.37, in line with analyst estimates, while revenue came in at $669 million, beating forecasts by $16.18 million.
Analysts reacted to the quarter with upward price-target revisions. Jefferies raised its target to $300 from $275 and maintained a Hold rating, citing a 9% increase in sales - 7% of which was organic - and a 15% increase in adjusted EPS driven by operating leverage and cost control. DA Davidson boosted its target to $335 from $290 and kept a Buy rating, pointing to expected growth in Nordson’s Advanced Technology Systems segment as semiconductor demand increases.
Dividend and research notes
Nordson has a 46-year streak of dividend payments, a detail noted among the InvestingPro tips for NDSN subscribers. That dividend streak is listed as one of more than 15 InvestingPro tips that accompany the service’s comprehensive Pro Research Report for the stock.
Takeaway
The insider sale and simultaneous option exercise by Nordson’s EVP occurred amid a quarter of solid top-line and earnings performance and resulted in mixed signals: a meaningful insider liquidity event offset by option exercises that increased executive share ownership. Analysts raised price targets following the quarter, while third-party research called the shares potentially overvalued at recent levels.