Live Oak Bancshares CEO Sells Shares Amid Strong Loan Growth
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 05 2026
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Share Sale Details: CEO James Mahan reported the sale of 10,000 shares of Live Oak Bancshares on May 14, 2026, for approximately $362,000, representing 0.2% of total beneficial ownership according to SEC Form 4.
- Current Holdings: Mahan retains 6,354,875 shares of Voting Common Stock, which can be converted to Common Stock, indicating his ongoing confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Loan Performance: Live Oak's loan originations hit $6.21 billion in 2025, up roughly 20% year-over-year, reflecting strong demand among small businesses and professionals, although the structural dependency on government-backed loans poses inherent risks.
- Market Valuation Analysis: The stock currently trades at approximately 1.45x tangible book value, which indicates growth potential but also suggests downside risk if interest rates and origination volumes do not meet expectations.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy LOB?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
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: 37.990
Low
35.00
Averages
42.67
High
50.00
Current: 37.990
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.
- Insider Selling Activity: Live Oak Bancshares CEO James S. “Chip” Mahan III indirectly sold 20,000 shares on June 10 and 11, 2026, for approximately $769,000, a transaction size consistent with his historical trading patterns, indicating a trend of steady selling.
- Ownership Structure Analysis: Post-transaction, Mahan holds no direct shares while maintaining 6,274,875 indirect shares, which raises concerns among investors regarding confidence in the company, especially given the absence of direct ownership.
- Market Performance and Risks: Despite a nearly 12% gain in 2026, Live Oak Bancshares remains at about half its value from five years ago, highlighting ongoing challenges that investors need to carefully assess in light of Mahan's selling activity.
- Executive Compensation and Market Signals: With Mahan earning nearly $1 million in salary, bonuses, and benefits, his selling does not necessarily indicate bearish sentiment; however, selling during a rebound could be perceived as a negative signal, prompting investors to weigh this alongside other data when evaluating the stock.
See More
- Insider Selling: Live Oak Bancshares Chairman and CEO Chip Mahan sold 20,000 shares between June 10 and 11, 2026, at a weighted average price of $38.46 per share, totaling approximately $769,000, indicating a trend of insider selling that raises investor concerns.
- Shareholding Status: After the sale, Mahan retains 6,274,875 shares of common stock, all held indirectly through family trusts and related entities, suggesting a significant ongoing investment in the company, yet the selling activity is noteworthy.
- Market Reaction: Despite Live Oak Bancshares experiencing nearly a 12% gain in 2026, Mahan's continued selling could be interpreted as a negative signal regarding the company's future prospects, especially as the stock remains about half its value from five years ago.
- Investor Caution: While Mahan's sales do not necessarily indicate a bleak outlook for the company, investors should carefully weigh this signal, particularly after years of market headwinds, as it may impact overall investor confidence.
See More
- Successful Financing: Aligned Climate Capital secured $33 million in construction financing for the Rifle Range Solar and Delaware Avenue Solar projects through Live Oak Bank's Renewable Energy Lending team, with a total capacity of approximately 11.8 MWdc, expected to generate 18.2 million kWh annually, significantly enhancing local clean energy supply.
- Significant Environmental Impact: The projects are projected to power around 1,661 Delaware homes while avoiding approximately 11,100 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually, with an estimated total savings of $9 million over the project's lifespan, highlighting the positive environmental impact of renewable energy.
- Job Creation: The construction of these projects is expected to support approximately 141 construction and installation jobs, not only boosting local economic development but also providing sustainable employment opportunities for the community, thereby enhancing the social value of the projects.
- Policy Support and Innovative Design: The Delaware projects benefit from the Investment Tax Credit under the Inflation Reduction Act and qualify for an additional 10% bonus credit due to their location in an IRA-designated Energy Community, while the project design also incorporates measures to protect archaeological sites, demonstrating respect for environmental and historical considerations.
See More
- Transaction Overview: Live Oak Bancshares CEO James S. III Mahan indirectly sold 20,000 shares of common stock on June 3 and 4, 2026, for approximately $737,000, reflecting a disciplined wealth management strategy consistent with his historical trading patterns.
- Ownership Analysis: Post-transaction, Mahan retains indirect ownership of 6,294,875 shares, indicating that his economic exposure remains closely tied to the bank's long-term performance, with no signs of a reduction in ownership intent.
- Financial Performance Highlights: Over the past year, Live Oak generated $1.37 billion in loan production, increased deposits by $146 million, and grew total assets by 12.5% year-over-year to $15.3 billion, showcasing the company's sustained business momentum.
- Management Outlook: Mahan emphasized “strong loan production, deposit growth, and stable credit performance,” while highlighting initiatives like Live Oak Express and business checking, indicating a positive outlook for the company's future development.
See More
- Insider Stock Sale: Live Oak Bancshares CEO James S. III Mahan sold 20,000 shares of common stock indirectly for approximately $737,000 between June 3 and 4, 2026, at an average price of $36.87 per share, indicating disciplined wealth management rather than a warning for shareholders.
- Ownership Status: Post-transaction, Mahan still indirectly owns about 6.3 million shares, which keeps his economic exposure closely tied to the bank's long-term performance, thereby bolstering investor confidence.
- Company Performance Growth: In Q1, Live Oak generated $1.37 billion in loan production, increased deposits by $146 million, and grew total assets by 12.5% year-over-year to $15.3 billion, with net income nearly tripling to $27.9 million, showcasing the company's sustained business momentum.
- Management's Optimistic Outlook: Mahan highlighted strong loan production, deposit growth, and stable credit performance, indicating the company's competitive position and future growth potential, even though the analyst team did not include it in their top investment stocks list.
See More
- Executive Share Sale: CEO James S. Iii Mahan sold 10,000 shares of Live Oak Bancshares on May 14, 2026, for approximately $362,260, representing 0.2% of his total reported holdings, with no impact on his remaining 6,354,875 indirect shares.
- Transaction Structure: All shares sold were held indirectly through family trusts and LLCs, specifically the James S. Mahan Revocable Trust, indicating a complex ownership structure tied to family asset management.
- Loan Growth Performance: Live Oak Bancshares reported loan originations of $6.21 billion in 2025, reflecting a robust 20% increase year-over-year, showcasing its strong position in the small business lending market despite potential risks from policy and funding constraints.
- Market Performance Assessment: The bank's shares were sold at a weighted average price of $36.23, closely aligning with the market close of $36.19, and currently trade at approximately 1.45 times tangible book value, indicating market confidence in its growth prospects while highlighting sensitivity to future interest rates and loan origination volumes.
See More








