TransDigm Founder Nicholas Howley Has Sold $1.26 Billion in TDG Stock Across 3,515 Transactions
W. Nicholas Howley, the founder and former CEO of TransDigm Group, has filed 3,515 insider transactions selling $1.26 billion in TDG and related stock — most recently in November 2025 at $1,340+ per share.
W. Nicholas Howley, the founder of TransDigm Group (TDG), has filed 3,515 insider transactions over his career — selling $1.26 billion in stock while buying back just $5 million. His most recent sale came in November 2025 at prices above $1,340 per share, netting approximately $559,000 in a single day.
The Numbers
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Career Sell Value | $1.26B |
| Career Buy Value | $5.0M |
| Total Transactions | 3,515 |
| Last Transaction | 2025-11-24 |
| Shares Remaining (TDG) | 21,547 |
Recent Activity
| Date | Type | Shares | Price | Est. Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-24 | Gift | 746,767 | N/A | N/A (PRM) |
| 2025-11-17 | Sell | 20 | $1,348.07 | $26,961 |
| 2025-11-17 | Sell | 83 | $1,347.53 | $111,845 |
| 2025-11-17 | Sell | 87 | $1,344.78 | $116,996 |
| 2025-11-17 | Sell | 61 | $1,343.82 | $81,973 |
| 2025-11-17 | Sell | 56 | $1,341.99 | $75,152 |
Howley’s November 2025 activity shows two distinct patterns: small-lot TDG sales at prices above $1,340 per share, and a large gift of 746,767 shares in Perimeter Solutions (PRM). The TDG sales — split across many micro-lots — are characteristic of a 10b5-1 preset trading plan.
What It Means
Howley founded TransDigm in 1993 and built it into one of aerospace’s most profitable companies through an aggressive acquisition strategy — buying niche aerospace component makers and raising prices. He served as CEO until 2018 and remained Executive Chairman before transitioning to a director role. The company’s stock has been one of the best-performing industrials, rising from under $50 at its 2006 IPO to over $1,300 today.
The $1.26 billion in career sales represents a remarkable return on a company Howley built from scratch. His $5 million in purchases suggests minimal open-market buying — the overwhelming majority of his shares came through founder equity and compensation grants.
What to Watch
- Whether Howley’s TDG selling cadence continues into 2026 as shares trade near all-time highs
- His large Perimeter Solutions position — the 746K share gift suggests significant PRM holdings remain
- TransDigm’s acquisition pipeline and defense spending trends
- Any changes in Howley’s board involvement or 10b5-1 plan amendments
Related Research
Explore all researchMariner Investment Group rebuilt its Q4 2025 13F at full speed: 65 new positions, only eight exits, and fresh mega-cap stakes in Microsoft, Lam Research, Alphabet, Costco, and Bitcoin ETF IBIT.
Mar 6, 2026
Ovata Capital's Q4 2025 filing is one of the strangest and most revealing in the cycle: Spotify calls at the top, Ryanair and TSMC right behind, IBIT in the top four, and multiple option-heavy special-situation lines throughout the book.
Mar 6, 2026
Rehmann Capital Advisory Group still runs through factor ETFs first, but Q4 2025 added a clear growth overlay: Netflix up 810%, XLK up 104%, and a fresh QQQ line on top of the value-growth core.
Mar 6, 2026
The second Capital Group division to file a massive Netflix build in Q4 2025. Capital Research Global also doubled its Applied Materials position, holds $26B in Eli Lilly, and opened a $1B position in MicroStrategy — the Bitcoin proxy.
Mar 6, 2026
NWF Advisory Services built a blended portfolio in Q4 2025: Berkshire for quality, XLK for tech beta, VOO and IVV for benchmark exposure, and a fast-rising Micron line for a more specific semiconductor view.
Mar 6, 2026