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The Conversation
D. Brian Blank, Associate Professor of Finance, Mississippi State University

Some kinds of insider trading are perfectly legal – and they offer useful signals about a company’s health

When senior staff buy their own company's shares during layoffs, they're signaling that a turnaround will succeed. AP Photo/Richard Drew

It’s a mantra among business executives that slashing their workforce will streamline operations and increase productivity – a strategic boost to the bottom line. And recent downsizing announcements have been no different, especially at tech companies citing massive disruptions caused by artificial intelligence.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, for example, stated in May 2026 that “this is the most dynamic I have seen our industry” as the company was starting its announced cull of 8,000 workers. He added: “I’m optimistic about everything we’re building. But success is not a given.”

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