Is Alphatec Stock a Buy or Sell After Its COO Dumped Nearly 20,000 Shares?

Scott Lish, Chief Operating Officer of Alphatec Holdings ( ATEC +0.94%), executed an open-market sale of 19,900 shares for a transaction value of approximately $390,836 on Dec. 16, 2025, as reported in the SEC Form 4 filing . Transaction summary Metric Value Shares sold (direct) 19,900 Transaction value ~$390,836.00 Post-transaction shares (direct) 641,432 Post-transaction value (direct ownership) ~$12,674,696.32 Transaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average purchase price ($19.64); post-transaction value based on Dec. 16, 2025 transaction price. Key questions How does the transaction compare to the insider's historical trade size? This sale of 19,900 shares closely matches Scott Lish's median trade size for all events (19,900 shares) and is slightly above the recent-period median for sell-only trades (15,950 shares), indicating a consistent disposition cadence. What is the impact on the insider's overall stake and share capacity? Direct holdings decreased by 3.01%, leaving 641,432 shares post-sale, and the declining trend in total holdings signals that future trades may become smaller as the insider's available share capacity continues to contract. Was there any indirect or derivative exposure involved in this transaction? No; the transaction was fully attributed to direct ownership, with zero shares held indirectly or through derivative instruments involved in the sale. How does the current market environment contextualize this sale? As of Dec. 16, 2025, Alphatec Holdings shares had delivered a total return of 108.7% over the prior year, and the insider's consistent selling activity reflects ongoing structured liquidity amid strong price appreciation. Company overview Metric Value Revenue (TTM) $728.02 million Net income (TTM) ($154.96 million) 1-year price change 127.08% * 1-year price change calculated using Dec. 16, 2025 as the reference date. Company snapshot Alphatec Holdings develops and markets advanced spinal surgery systems, including neural monitoring, fixation, and implant technologies, as well as biologics and imaging products. It generates revenue primarily through the direct sale and distribution of proprietary medical devices and surgical solutions for spinal disorder treatments. The company targets hospitals, surgeons, and healthcare providers in the United States, with a focus on the spinal surgery market. Alphatec Holdings is a U.S.-based medical technology company specializing in innovative surgical solutions for spinal disorders. The company leverages a broad portfolio of proprietary devices and biologics to address a range of spinal pathologies, emphasizing clinical outcomes and procedural efficiency. Its strategy centers on technology-driven differentiation and direct engagement with spine surgeons to strengthen its competitive position in the U.S. healthcare market. What this transaction means for investors Alphatec COO Scott Lish's sale of nearly 20,000 shares in his company does not represent a red flag. He still held over 640,000 direct shares after the disposition. Mr. Lish's sale came at a time when Alphatec stock had undergone an upswing. Shares hit a 52-week high of $22.66 on Nov. 26, well above the low of $8.81 reached in April. With Alphatec stock's price-to-sales ratio of over four, nearly double the P/S multiple of 2.4 in the first quarter, now is a good time to sell shares. Alphatec's price appreciation...

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