Howard L. Lance Sells Mercury Systems Shares
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 6 days ago
0mins
Should l Buy MRCY?
Source: Fool
- Transaction Overview: On February 25, 2026, Howard L. Lance sold 4,832 shares of Mercury Systems in an open market transaction valued at approximately $430,000, based on a weighted average sale price of $88.98 per share, indicating his confidence in the company's current stock price.
- Impact on Holdings: This sale represented 15% of Lance's direct holdings, leaving him with 27,272 shares directly and 9,250 shares indirectly held through a revocable trust, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to the company.
- Market Performance Context: As of March 24, 2026, Mercury Systems' stock still boasts a 68% year-over-year return, despite a slight decline from over 100% earlier this year, reflecting the company's strong performance in the aerospace and defense sectors.
- Acquisition and Growth Potential: The recent acquisition of SolderMask Inc. is expected to enhance manufacturing capacity and efficiency, and with a record backlog of $1.5 billion, it underscores the company's growth potential and competitive position in the industry.
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Analyst Views on MRCY
Wall Street analysts forecast MRCY stock price to rise
6 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
1 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 71.400
Low
49.00
Averages
81.20
High
102.00
Current: 71.400
Low
49.00
Averages
81.20
High
102.00
About MRCY
Mercury Systems, Inc. is a technology company that delivers mission-critical processing to the edge where signals and data are collected to solve the most pressing aerospace and defense challenges. The Mercury Processing Platform spans the full breadth of signal processing from radio frequency (RF) front end to the human-machine interface to convert data, gathered in remote and hostile environments, into critical decisions. The Company offers products and custom solutions from silicon to system scale, including components, modules, subsystems, and systems. Its products and solutions are deployed for a variety of applications including sensor and radar processing, electronic warfare, avionics, weapons, command, control, communications, and intelligence (C4I). The Company serves United States and European defense prime contractors, the United States government, original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and commercial aerospace companies.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Stock Sale Overview: On February 25, 2026, Howard Lance sold 4,832 shares at a weighted average price of $88.98, totaling approximately $430,000, which represented 15% of his direct holdings, indicating his confidence in the market.
- Holding Status: Post-transaction, Lance retains 27,272 shares directly and 9,250 shares indirectly through the Howard L. Lance Revocable Living Trust, reflecting a positive outlook on the company's future.
- Performance Metrics: As of March 24, 2026, Mercury Systems' stock is up 68% year-over-year, although it has decreased from over 100% earlier this year, showcasing strong market performance and competitiveness in the aerospace and defense sectors.
- Acquisition and Growth: Mercury Systems completed its acquisition of SolderMask Inc. in March, which is expected to enhance manufacturing capacity and production rates, further solidifying its industry position, while Q2 bookings increased by 18.6% year-over-year, indicating robust market demand.
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- Transaction Overview: On February 25, 2026, Howard L. Lance sold 4,832 shares of Mercury Systems in an open market transaction valued at approximately $430,000, based on a weighted average sale price of $88.98 per share, indicating his confidence in the company's current stock price.
- Impact on Holdings: This sale represented 15% of Lance's direct holdings, leaving him with 27,272 shares directly and 9,250 shares indirectly held through a revocable trust, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to the company.
- Market Performance Context: As of March 24, 2026, Mercury Systems' stock still boasts a 68% year-over-year return, despite a slight decline from over 100% earlier this year, reflecting the company's strong performance in the aerospace and defense sectors.
- Acquisition and Growth Potential: The recent acquisition of SolderMask Inc. is expected to enhance manufacturing capacity and efficiency, and with a record backlog of $1.5 billion, it underscores the company's growth potential and competitive position in the industry.
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- Stake Change: 13D Management completely divested its position in Asbury Automotive Group in Q4 2025, previously holding shares worth $5.2 million, indicating a cautious outlook on the stock's future performance.
- Asset Allocation Shift: The sale eliminated Asbury's 5% allocation in 13D's assets under management, reflecting a reevaluation of its investment portfolio amidst changing market conditions.
- Market Performance: As of February 16, 2026, Asbury's stock price stood at $229.44, down 24.4% over the past year, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 by 36.2 percentage points, raising concerns about its growth prospects.
- Industry Outlook: While Asbury has shown stable growth over the past two years, rising new vehicle costs and high valuations may pressure demand and margins, prompting 13D Management to seek more attractive investment opportunities.
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- Complete Exit: In Q4 2025, 13D Management sold all 21,337 shares of Asbury Automotive Group, previously valued at $5.2 million, indicating a complete withdrawal that may reflect concerns about market prospects.
- Asset Allocation Shift: Asbury accounted for 5.0% of 13D's reportable assets in Q3, but the complete divestment in Q4 suggests a significant decline in the fund's confidence in the company.
- Market Environment Impact: Although Asbury's price-to-earnings ratio stands at 7, indicating relative cheapness, rising costs of new vehicles and a pullback in consumer spending could pressure future demand and margins, prompting 13D to seek more attractive investment opportunities.
- Investment Advisory Warning: Before considering an investment in Asbury Automotive Group, it is advisable to review the top 10 stocks recommended by The Motley Fool's analyst team, as Asbury was not included, reflecting a cautious market outlook on its future performance.
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- Definition of 13D Filings: 13D filings are disclosures required to be submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission within 10 days when an entity acquires more than 5% of any class of a company's securities, aimed at enhancing market transparency.
- Purpose of Disclosure: The primary purpose of these filings is to inform investors about changes in shareholding, which can influence market perceptions and investment decisions, thereby promoting information symmetry.
- Regulatory Requirements: Under securities law, investors holding more than 5% must promptly disclose their holdings to prevent insider trading and market manipulation, ensuring a fair trading environment.
- Market Impact: The release of 13D filings typically attracts market attention and may lead to stock price fluctuations for the affected companies, prompting investors to closely monitor these disclosures to make informed investment decisions.
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- Budget Increase: The Pentagon's FY2026 budget allocates $66.1 billion for IT and cyberspace activities, marking a 2.8% year-over-year increase that will directly enhance AI integration and electronic warfare modernization across military branches.
- Global Armament Trends: Worldwide defense spending is projected to exceed $2.6 trillion in 2026, reflecting a pressing demand for defense technologies as nations accelerate procurement timelines under geopolitical pressures.
- Strategic Partnerships: VisionWave Holdings has formed a joint venture with Israel's Boca Jom Ltd. to advance automated semiconductor design technologies, while also collaborating with PVML and Aiphex to enhance secure AI infrastructure, indicating a strategic focus on high-tech sectors.
- New Product Launches: VisionWave introduced the VARAN Unmanned Ground Vehicle platform for surveillance, logistics, and security missions, and plans to acquire a 51% controlling stake in C.M. Composite Materials to strengthen its competitive position in aerospace-grade materials.
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