Live Oak Bancshares CEO Sells 20,000 Shares of Stock
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 01 2026
0mins
Should l Buy LOB?
Source: Fool
- Transaction Overview: James S. Mahan III, CEO of Live Oak Bancshares, indirectly sold 20,000 shares of common stock on February 18 and 19, 2026, for approximately $804,000, indicating active market participation.
- Ownership Change Analysis: Following the transaction, Mahan's indirect holdings decreased from 6,454,875 to 6,434,875 shares, while direct holdings remained at zero, reflecting a slight adjustment in his equity stake in the company.
- Transaction Context: The sale was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted on August 27, 2025, representing routine portfolio management rather than a strategic exit or reduction in equity.
- Company Financial Performance: Live Oak Bancshares reported $150.93 million in revenue for Q4 FY 2025, a 61.75% increase year-over-year, showcasing strong performance in the small business lending sector despite ongoing stock price pressures.
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Analyst Views on LOB
Wall Street analysts forecast LOB stock price to rise
3 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 33.400
Low
35.00
Averages
42.67
High
50.00
Current: 33.400
Low
35.00
Averages
42.67
High
50.00
About LOB
Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. is the bank holding company for Live Oak Banking Company (the Bank). The Bank specializes in providing lending and deposit-related services to small businesses nationwide. The Bank operates a national online platform for small business lending and deposit gathering. In addition to the Bank, the Company directly or indirectly holds wholly owned subsidiaries, including Live Oak Ventures, Inc. (Live Oak Ventures), Live Oak Grove, LLC (Grove), and Government Loan Solutions, Inc. (GLS). Live Oak Ventures has an investment in Synply, Inc. (Synply). Synply is a cloud-based technology platform designed to simplify the loan syndication process for financial institutions. The Grove provides Company employees and business visitors with on-site dining at the Company’s Wilmington, North Carolina headquarters. GLS is a management and technology consulting firm that advises and offers solutions and services to participants in the government-guaranteed lending sector.
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.
- Price Fluctuation Analysis: LOB's stock has a 52-week low of $22.73 and a high of $42.89, with the last trade at $33.65, indicating significant price volatility and reflecting market interest and investor sentiment changes.
- Technical Indicator Observation: The current price of $33.65 is below the 200-day moving average, suggesting potential downward pressure in the short term, prompting investors to monitor future trends for optimal buy or sell timing.
- Market Sentiment Assessment: Despite notable fluctuations over the past year, the current price remains above the low point, indicating a degree of market confidence in LOB's fundamentals, which may attract long-term investors.
- Investment Strategy Recommendation: Investors should consider the relationship between LOB's price performance and overall market trends, combining technical analysis with fundamental research to formulate sound investment strategies in light of future uncertainties.
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- Live Oak Bankshares Performance: The bank's stock has surged nearly 20% over the past year, significantly outperforming the market, showcasing its specialization and high-quality loan origination in the small business lending sector, thereby enhancing its competitive edge.
- Upbound's Value Proposition: Upbound attracts investors with a forward P/E ratio of five and a dividend yield exceeding 7%, and despite slower growth, its revenue accelerated to 11% in the past year, indicating stability and potential in the rental market.
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- Transaction Overview: James S. Mahan III, CEO of Live Oak Bancshares, indirectly sold 20,000 shares of common stock on February 18 and 19, 2026, for approximately $804,000, indicating active market participation.
- Ownership Change Analysis: Following the transaction, Mahan's indirect holdings decreased from 6,454,875 to 6,434,875 shares, while direct holdings remained at zero, reflecting a slight adjustment in his equity stake in the company.
- Transaction Context: The sale was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted on August 27, 2025, representing routine portfolio management rather than a strategic exit or reduction in equity.
- Company Financial Performance: Live Oak Bancshares reported $150.93 million in revenue for Q4 FY 2025, a 61.75% increase year-over-year, showcasing strong performance in the small business lending sector despite ongoing stock price pressures.
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- Executive Sell-off: James S. Mahan III, CEO of Live Oak Bancshares, sold 20,000 shares indirectly on February 18 and 19, 2026, for approximately $804,000 at an average price of $40.18 per share, raising concerns about the company's future performance in the market.
- Continued Growth: Despite the sell-off, Live Oak Bancshares reported $150.93 million in revenue for Q4 FY 2025, a 61.75% increase year-over-year, indicating strong growth potential in the small business banking sector.
- Market Position: The company was recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration as the most active SBA 7(a) lender in the nation, securing 2,280 loan approvals in FY 2025, providing over $2.8 billion in funding, which underscores its leadership in small business financing.
- Investor Attention: Although the company shows strong performance in the small business banking sector, it was not included in the Motley Fool Stock Advisor's current list of top investment stocks, which may affect investor confidence in its future investment value.
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- Transaction Overview: Live Oak Bancshares CEO James S. Iii Mahan indirectly sold 20,000 shares of common stock for approximately $810,000, indicating ongoing liquidity management within the company.
- Impact on Holdings: This transaction accounted for 0.31% of Mahan's overall indirect holdings, reflecting his sensitivity to market dynamics and strategic planning for future investments despite the small fraction.
- Background of Sale: The sale was executed under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, allowing Mahan to pre-plan the transaction, which demonstrates his confidence in the company's future development.
- Market Response and Outlook: Although Live Oak Bancshares is relatively lesser-known in the small business banking sector, it achieved a 61.75% revenue growth in Q4 FY 2025, showcasing strong performance in the small business loan market, potentially attracting more investor interest.
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- Executive Stock Sale: Live Oak Bancshares CEO James S. Mahan III indirectly sold 20,000 shares of common stock on February 11 and 12, 2026, for approximately $810,000 based on a weighted average sale price of $40.49 per share, representing 0.31% of his indirect holdings prior to the sale.
- Small Business Lending Leader: The U.S. Small Business Administration recognized Live Oak Bancshares as the most active SBA 7(a) lender in the nation, approving 2,280 loans in FY 2025 and providing over $2.8 billion in funding, highlighting its significant role in small business financial services.
- Financial Performance Growth: In Q4 of FY 2025, Live Oak Bancshares reported its fourth consecutive quarter of revenue growth, generating $150.93 million, a 61.75% increase from the previous year, although this performance still lags behind previous fiscal years, contributing to stock declines over the past two years.
- Investor Considerations: Despite a stock increase of 18% as of February 21, 2026, analysts noted that Live Oak Bancshares was not included in the current list of top investment stocks, prompting investors to carefully evaluate its niche market focus in small business banking and future growth potential.
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