The Dow Jones closed higher by over 100 points on Thursday. When insiders purchase or sell shares, it indicates their confidence or concern around the company's prospects. Investors and traders interested in penny stocks can consider this a factor in their overall investment or trading decision.

Below is a look at a few recent notable insider transactions for penny stocks. For more, check out Benzinga's insider transactions platform.

Houston American Energy

• The Trade: Houston American Energy Corp. (NYSE:HUSA) Director James Schoonover acquired a total 15,000 shares an average price of $2.24. To acquire these shares, it cost around $33.52 thousand.
• What's Happening: The company's stock dropped around 45% over the past six months.
• What Houston American Energy Does: Houston American Energy Corp is an independent oil and gas company focused on the development, exploration, exploitation, acquisition, and production of natural gas and crude oil properties.

CalciMedica

• The Trade: CalciMedica, Inc. (OTC:CALC) Chief Medical Officer Sudarshan Hebbar acquired a total of 10,000 shares at an average price of $2.70. The insider spent around $27 thousand to buy those shares. The company's other Directors also purchased the company's shares.
• What's Happening: Oppenheimer reiterated CalciMedica with an Outperform and maintained a $14 price target.
• What CalciMedica Does: CalciMedica Inc is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for life-threatening inflammatory diseases with high unmet need.

Vintage Wine Estates

• The Trade: Vintage Wine Estates, Inc. (NASDAQ:VWE) Executive Chairman Patrick A Roney acquired a total of 100,000 shares at an average price of $1.17. To acquire these shares, it cost around $117.02 thousand.
• What's Happening: Vintage Wine Estates posted better-than-expected quarterly earnings.
• What Vintage Wine Estates Does: Vintage Wine Estates Inc is a family of wineries and wines whose singular focus is producing the finest quality wines and incredible customer experiences with wineries throughout Napa, Sonoma, California's Central Coast, Oregon, and Washington State.

• Kopin

• The Trade: Kopin Corporation (NASDAQ:KOPN) Director John Fan acquired a total of 23,293 shares at an average price of $1.35. The insider spent $31.45 thousand to buy those shares.
• What's Happening: Kopin reported a first-quarter FY23 revenue decline of 7% year-on-year to $10.8 million, beating the consensus of $9.8 million.
• What Kopin Does: Kopin Corp is a developer, manufacturer, and seller of components, subassemblies, and head-worn and hand-held systems.

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