Insider Trading March 5, 2026

Peoples Bancorp Director Disposes of $17,935 in Stock; Company Declares Special Dividend

Director James S. Abernethy sells 477 shares as the bank trades above last year's levels; special cash dividend also announced

By Marcus Reed PEBK
Peoples Bancorp Director Disposes of $17,935 in Stock; Company Declares Special Dividend
PEBK

James S. Abernethy, a director at Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina Inc (NASDAQ: PEBK), sold 477 shares on March 3, 2026, for $37.60 each, totaling $17,935. The stock is trading at $38.41, roughly 50% higher over the past year, while third-party analysis indicates shares may be overvalued versus fair value. The company also announced a special cash dividend of $0.17 per share, with a February 4, 2026 record date and a February 13, 2026 payment date. Peoples Bancorp operates multiple banking and loan production offices across several North Carolina counties and emphasizes returning value to shareholders.

Key Points

  • Director James S. Abernethy sold 477 shares on March 3, 2026, at $37.60 per share, totaling $17,935.
  • After the sale Abernethy directly owns 70,426 shares and additionally holds 37,000 shares indirectly through his son and 70,441 shares associated with his role at Alexander Railroad Co.
  • Peoples Bancorp declared a special cash dividend of $0.17 per share for holders of record on February 4, 2026, payable February 13, 2026; the bank operates multiple banking and loan production offices across several North Carolina counties.

James S. Abernethy, who serves on the board of PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA INC (NASDAQ: PEBK), completed a sale of company shares on March 3, 2026. The director sold 477 shares of common stock at $37.60 per share, generating proceeds of $17,935.

At the time of that transaction, the company’s shares were quoted at $38.41 and have risen about 50% over the trailing 12 months. InvestingPro’s analysis, referenced in public reports, indicates the shares are trading above its Fair Value estimate.


Post-transaction holdings

Following the sale, Abernethy directly holds 70,426 shares of Peoples Bancorp. Additional holdings attributed to him include 37,000 shares held indirectly through his son and 70,441 shares tied to his role as Vice President, Secretary and Chairman of Alexander Railroad Co.


Dividend announcement

Separately, the bank announced a special cash dividend of $0.17 per share. The dividend was set to shareholders of record on February 4, 2026, with payment scheduled for February 13, 2026. The company’s public statements describe the dividend as part of its efforts to return value to shareholders.


Operations and regional focus

Peoples Bancorp operates multiple banking offices across several counties in North Carolina and maintains loan production offices in various counties. Company communications underscore a continued focus on regional operations and services as part of ongoing financial activity.


What is clear

The facts reported include the insider sale, the director’s aggregated direct and indirect holdings, the special dividend declaration with specified record and payment dates, and third-party valuation commentary indicating the shares may be priced above fair value. Beyond these items, public information provided here does not elaborate on broader financial results or additional corporate actions.

Risks

  • Valuation risk - InvestingPro analysis indicates the shares are trading above its Fair Value estimate, suggesting potential overvaluation.
  • Price volatility - The stock has moved approximately 50% higher over the past year, which may reflect elevated short-term price swings.
  • Limited public detail - The report focuses on the insider sale and dividend announcement and does not provide broader financial metrics or long-term guidance for the bank.

More from Insider Trading

PTC Legal Chief Sells $422K in Stock Amid Strong Quarterly Results and Rising AI Competition Mar 5, 2026 Equinix Executive Disposes of $198,665 in Shares as Company Advances Nordic Acquisition Mar 5, 2026 Datadog CEO Sells $7.6M in Stock to Cover Tax and Fees; Company Announces Board Addition and AI Partnership Mar 5, 2026 Datadog COO Sells $3.7M in Stock as Shares Trade Well Below 52-Week High Mar 5, 2026 Datadog CRO Sells $3.5M in Stock to Cover Vesting Taxes, Company Announces Board Addition and AI Partnership Mar 5, 2026