Stock Markets February 18, 2026

DraftKings Shares Tick Up After Director Acquires $2.19M Stake

Director Harry Sloan increases his holding as DKNG posts a modest premarket gain

By Jordan Park DKNG
DraftKings Shares Tick Up After Director Acquires $2.19M Stake
DKNG

DraftKings shares rose modestly in premarket trading after company director Harry Sloan bought 100,000 Class A shares for roughly $2.19 million on February 17, 2026. The purchase, at $21.85 per share, brings Sloan's total stake to 350,219 shares and has been interpreted as a sign of insider confidence.

Key Points

  • Director Harry Sloan purchased 100,000 Class A shares on February 17, 2026, at $21.85 per share, totaling about $2.19 million.
  • Following the purchase, Sloan's total holdings in DraftKings amount to 350,219 shares.
  • The stock rose 1.7% in premarket trading following the disclosure; insider buying is often viewed by investors as a positive signal for the company and the gaming/sports-betting sector.

DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ:DKNG) saw a small uptick in premarket trading on Wednesday, gaining 1.7% after the company disclosed an insider purchase by one of its directors.

A securities filing shows that director Harry Sloan purchased 100,000 shares of Class A common stock on February 17, 2026, at a price of $21.85 per share. The transaction totaled approximately $2.19 million. Following the acquisition, Sloan's aggregate holding in the company stands at 350,219 shares.

Insider purchases such as Sloan's are frequently interpreted by investors as a vote of confidence from individuals with close knowledge of company operations. Market participants often view such transactions as a positive signal because they may indicate that insiders are willing to increase their exposure to the company.

While the disclosure of the purchase coincided with a 1.7% rise in the stock during premarket sessions, the filing itself provides the primary factual detail: the number of shares bought, the per-share price, the total amount paid, the transaction date, and the updated total of shares held by the director.

Below are the core facts disclosed in the filing and reflected in market reaction:

  • Transaction: Purchase of 100,000 Class A common shares.
  • Price and value: $21.85 per share, approximately $2.19 million total.
  • Date: February 17, 2026.
  • Post-transaction holdings: 350,219 shares owned by Harry Sloan.
  • Market movement: DKNG rose 1.7% in premarket trading on the day of the disclosure.

The filing supplies the factual record; it does not provide commentary from the director or the company about the motivation behind the purchase. Observers typically note that insider buying can be meaningful to investors, but the filing itself limits the public information to the transaction details and the updated share total.


For investors and analysts, the announcement adds to the set of publicly available insider transactions for the company, but it does not include any further operational, strategic, or forward-looking statements from the company or the insider.

Risks

  • The securities filing provides only transaction details and does not explain the motivation behind the purchase; the purchase alone does not guarantee future stock performance.
  • Market moves following such disclosures can be short-lived; the premarket 1.7% gain reflects immediate reaction rather than a sustained outcome.

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