On July 17, U.S. corporate executives are selling stocks at the second-fastest rate in over 20 years. For some investors, this is a typical warning sign, as it indicates that those most familiar with the company's operations are cautious about the current market. According to data from EPFR Global Market Intelligence, insiders in U.S. companies sold a total of $77.6 billion in stocks in the first half of 2026, a 20% increase compared to the same period last year. The only larger sell-off in the past two decades occurred in 2021, driven by massive stimulus funds during the pandemic. EPFR analyst Winston Chua and others wrote in their report, 'Insider trading behavior indicates that corporate executives do not have a strong desire to increase their stock holdings at current valuation levels.' Additionally, insider buying activity remains sluggish. In the first half of 2026, they purchased only $6.9 billion worth of company stocks, slightly above the seven-year low of $6.7 billion recorded in the same period last year.