VRCA Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc. Insider Trading

COO Zawitz buys 10,000 shares of VRCA at $4.24; 4 other insiders bought in past 14 days (cluster pattern)

Zawitz, Chief Operating Officer, purchased 10,000 shares at $4.24 on 2025-11-25, increasing his holdings by 90.9% from 11,000 to 21,000 shares. This buy coincides with a coordinated cluster of insider purchases: 4 other insiders acquired shares within the past 14 days. The stock currently trades at $5.12, 60.0% below its 52-week high of $12.80, having gained 33.0% over the past 30 days. Verrica remains unprofitable with full-year net income of $-274,000 despite quarterly revenue of $14,344,000 and annual revenue growth of 47.7%, suggesting senior management is accumulating shares at significantly depressed valuation levels alongside multiple peers.

Interim CFO Kirby John J. bought 3,536 shares of VRCA at $4.24; 4 other insiders also bought within 14 days, clustering amid unprofitability.

Kirby John J., serving as Interim CFO, purchased 3,536 shares at $4.24 on 2025-11-25, increasing his holdings by 65.2% to 8,962 shares total and committing $15,001.48 to the transaction. This buy coincides with a broader cluster pattern: 4 other insiders also bought within the past 14 days, suggesting coordinated or thematic confidence at a specific price level. However, the company remains unprofitable (net income was negative in the most recent full fiscal year), though it posted strong revenue growth of 47.7% year-over-year with $14,343,000 in latest quarterly revenue. The stock trades at $5.12 currently, down 60.0% from its 52-week high of $12.80, providing context for why the $4.24 purchase price may have appeared attractive to insiders despite the company's profitability challenges.

CMO Noah Rosenberg buys 2,357 shares of VRCA at $4.24 in cluster pattern with 4 other insiders in 14 days

Noah Rosenberg (CMO) purchased 2,357 shares at $4.24, establishing a position where none existed before, as part of a coordinated cluster buy pattern involving 4 other insiders within a 14-day window. The transaction occurred when the stock was trading at a significant discount—60.0% below its 52-week high of $12.80—though it has recovered 33.0% over the past 30 days from depressed levels. The timing and multi-insider participation warrant attention, particularly given the company's operational profile: revenue reached $14.3M in the latest quarter with annual revenue growth of +47.7%, yet the company remains unprofitable on a full-year basis with a net loss position. The cluster buy signal combined with the company's unprofitable status and micro-cap scale ($48.6M market cap) presents a complex picture requiring deeper examination of insider motivations and company fundamentals.

CEO Jayson Rieger bought 94,311 shares of VRCA at $4.24; holdings doubled to 182,593 shares as stock down 60% from 52-week high. Cluster buy with 4 other insiders in past 14 days.

CEO Jayson Rieger purchased 94,311 shares at $4.24 on 2025-11-25, increasing his holdings by 106.8% to 182,593 shares total. The purchase occurred with VRCA trading $5.12 currently, down 60.0% from its 52-week high of $12.80. His cross-ticker track record shows 0 of 1 prior buys were well-timed (90d return was -25.4% on his last VRCA buy on 2024-11-22), establishing a pattern of purchases preceding near-term declines. The filing reflects a cluster buy pattern, with 4 other insiders also purchasing within the past 14 days. Verrica is unprofitable with net income of $-274,000.00 over the most recent full fiscal year, though annual revenue growth reached +47.7%. This combination—a CEO accumulating shares heavily at a depressed price point alongside peer executives, in an unprofitable but growing biotech context—warrants scrutiny of the underlying operational catalyst.

Director Manning Paul B purchases 4,126,142 shares (4.13M) at $4.24; coincides with cluster buy by 4 other insiders within 14 days.

Director Manning Paul B executed 2 separate purchases totaling 4,126,142 shares for $17,505,157.44, bringing post-transaction holdings to 3,348,372 shares. The timing is notable: 4 other insiders also bought within the past 14 days, indicating a cluster buy pattern. However, the director's prior trade history at this ticker is concerning—his 2 measurable same-ticker buys (both on 2024-11-22) posted -30.2% and -25.4% returns at the 30 and 90-day marks respectively, with a 0% success rate on the 90-day metric. His cross-ticker track record shows mixed results (90d win rate 57.14%, avg 90d return -2.6%), further tempering conviction signals. The company remains unprofitable (net income $-274,000.00 on revenue of $14,344,000.00 in the latest quarter) despite strong annual growth of +47.7%, and the stock is -60.0% from its 52-week high, which may explain the coordinated insider accumulation at depressed price levels.

Director Stalfort John A III buys 1,123,595 shares (149.8% increase in holdings); 2 other insiders also bought within 14 days amid -88.4% decline from 52-week high.

Director Stalfort John A III purchased 1,123,595 shares on 2024-11-22, increasing his holdings from 750,205 shares to 1,873,800 shares (a 149.8% increase). This purchase occurred while the stock is trading at $11.10, down -88.4% from its 52-week high of $95.60, and has declined -26.5% over the past 30 days and -52.4% over the past 90 days. The purchase is part of a cluster pattern, with 2 other insiders also buying within the past 14 days. The company faces significant headwinds: it reported a negative revenue of $-1,781,000.00 in the latest quarter, a net loss of $-22,860,000.00, and an annual revenue decline of -43.3%. Across Stalfort's open-market history spanning multiple tickers, his 2 prior buys have averaged a 30-day return of +265.6% and a 90-day return of +47.8% with a 100.00% win rate, though this cross-ticker track record may not be predictive of VRCA-specific outcomes. The combination of substantial insider accumulation during severe price compression against a backdrop of deteriorating financial fundamentals warrants investor scrutiny of the company's strategic positioning and forward guidance.

CEO Jayson Rieger bought 280,898 shares of Verrica (VRCA) on 2024-11-22; stock down -88.4% from 52-week high. 2 other insiders also bought in 14-day window.

CEO and President Jayson Rieger acquired 280,898 shares, increasing his holdings by 46.7% from 601,928 to 882,826 shares. This purchase coincides with a broader cluster pattern: 2 other insiders also bought within the past 14 days, suggesting aligned accumulation at a time when VRCA has collapsed -88.4% from its 52-week high of $95.60 and trades at $11.10. The company faces material headwinds—Revenue was $-1,781,000.00 in the latest quarter, net income was $-22,860,000.00 on a full-year basis, and annual revenue growth contracted -43.3% year-over-year. Multiple insiders increasing holdings despite negative earnings and negative quarterly revenue suggests the buying pattern warrants investor scrutiny regarding management's view on asset value or strategic developments not yet public.

Director Manning Paul B purchases 22,921,348 shares (22.92M) at $0.00 in 2 transactions, boosting holdings 788.6%; stock down 88.4% from 52-week high of $95.60.

Manning Paul B acquired 22,921,348 shares (22.92M shares) across 2 separate purchases on 2024-11-22 for $0.00, expanding his holdings from 2,906,746 to 25,828,094 shares (+788.6%). The zero-price transactions signal a non-cash acquisition—likely a private placement, conversion, or equity issuance rather than open-market buying. The timing coincides with severe stock deterioration: at the current price of $11.10, the stock trades 88.4% below its 52-week high of $95.60 and is down 26.5% in the past 30 days and 52.4% over 90 days. Fundamentally, the company is unprofitable with net income of $-22,860,000.00 (negative $22.9M) and negative revenue of $-1,781,000.00 in the latest quarter, alongside declining annual revenue (down 43.3% year-over-year). A cluster pattern emerges: 2 other insiders also purchased within the past 14 days, suggesting coordinated insider acquisition activity during a period of significant stock weakness.