Arista Networks 123M Volume Ranks 67th Amid Executive s Structured Stock Exit

On August 20, 2025, Arista Networks (ANET) closed down 0.99% with a trading volume of $1.23 billion, ranking 67th in market activity. The stock’s movement coincided with a significant insider transaction involving Kenneth Duda, the company’s CTO and SVP of Software Engineering. Duda executed a non-qualified stock option to acquire 30,000 shares at $3.515 and sold multiple lots of common stock under Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, with weighted-average prices ranging from $135.57 to $137.39. The filing disclosed indirect holdings exceeding 1.2 million shares in children’s trusts and a 501(c) foundation, along with 750,000 shares each in two grantor-retained annuity trusts (GRATs).

The transactions, conducted under prearranged Rule 10b5-1 plans adopted on March 13, 2025, highlight structured liquidity management rather than opportunistic trading. While the sales may temporarily weigh on investor sentiment, the indirect holdings remain substantial, indicating long-term alignment with the company’s interests. The filing also detailed co-trustee roles and voting arrangements, clarifying governance structures without asserting beneficial ownership over certain trust-held shares.

The strategy of buying the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding them for one day from 2022 to 2025 yielded a 1-day return of 0.98% and a total return of 31.52% over 365 days. This suggests the approach captured short-term momentum but remains subject to market volatility and timing risks.