Insider Trading January 28, 2026

Yelp CEO Executes Stock Sales and Option Exercise Amid Strategic Moves

Stoppelman sells 59,000 shares, exercises 90,000 options as Yelp reports stronger-than-expected Q3 results and advances acquisition and financing steps

By Leila Farooq YELP
Yelp CEO Executes Stock Sales and Option Exercise Amid Strategic Moves
YELP

Yelp Chief Executive Jeremy Stoppelman sold 59,000 shares worth about $2.5 million between January 26 and January 28 under a pre-arranged 10b5-1 plan, and exercised options to acquire 90,000 shares at $20.47. The transactions follow Yelp's solid third-quarter 2025 performance, a planned acquisition of Hatch, and an expanded revolving credit facility.

Key Points

  • CEO Jeremy Stoppelman sold 59,000 shares between January 26 and January 28 at prices ranging from $27.3507 to $28.455, totaling approximately $2.5 million - impacts capital markets and investor sentiment.
  • Stoppelman exercised options to acquire 90,000 shares at $20.47 for a total value of $1842300, and now directly owns 756,458 shares - relevant to insider ownership metrics.
  • Yelp posted stronger-than-expected Q3 2025 results (EPS $0.61 vs $0.52 forecast; revenue $376M vs $368.36M expected), announced a ~$270M cash acquisition of Hatch, and increased its revolving credit facility to $325M - affecting advertising, technology, and corporate finance sectors.

Yelp Inc. reported that Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Stoppelman disposed of 59,000 shares of common stock for approximately $2.5 million over a three-day span from January 26 to January 28. The sales were executed at prices between $27.3507 and $28.455.

Concurrently, Stoppelman exercised options to acquire 90,000 shares of Yelp common stock at an exercise price of $20.47, for a total value of $1842300. The share sales were implemented under a pre-arranged 10b5-1 trading plan that was adopted on May 19, 2025.

Following the completion of these transactions, Stoppelman holds 756,458 shares of Yelp directly.


These insider transactions come as Yelp disclosed third-quarter 2025 financial results that outperformed analyst expectations. The company reported earnings per share of $0.61, beating the consensus forecast of $0.52, and generated revenue of $376 million, above the anticipated $368.36 million. Yelp also said advertising revenue rose 4% year-over-year to $357 million.

Market analysts reacted to the quarter while maintaining differentiated views on valuation. Evercore ISI reduced its price target on Yelp to $38 from $45 but kept an Outperform rating.

Strategically, Yelp announced it will acquire Hatch, an AI-powered lead management and communication platform, for approximately $270 million in cash. The acquisition is expected to close in early February, subject to customary closing conditions.

On the financing front, Yelp has increased its revolving credit facility to $325 million and named Wells Fargo Bank as the new administrative agent. The company characterized these steps as moves to enhance financial flexibility and bolster technological capabilities.


Taken together, the insider activity and corporate actions paint a picture of active portfolio and capital management at Yelp, alongside investment in AI-enabled tools and a modestly improved advertising trend. Observers will likely watch how the company integrates Hatch and deploys its expanded credit facility while monitoring the stock following insider transactions and the updated analyst target.

Risks

  • Closing of the Hatch acquisition is subject to customary conditions, creating execution risk for the company's AI-driven lead management strategy - impacts technology and software integration.
  • Analyst valuation adjustments, such as Evercore ISI lowering its price target to $38 from $45, indicate market uncertainty about near-term valuation despite an Outperform rating - affects equity market perception and investor positioning.
  • Insider stock sales, even when conducted under a 10b5-1 plan, can introduce short-term market reaction and volatility around the stock - impacts capital markets and trading liquidity.

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