First Guaranty Bancshares ends higher after director buys stock

Community lender First Guaranty Bancshares' FGBI.O shares close up 8.8% at $4.80

FGBI director Robert Walker bought 3,600 shares of the bank in recent weeks, according to a regulatory filing late on Friday

Buybacks and insider buying are the strongest signals companies can send to the market, according to analysts

In October, FGBI reported a third-quarter loss, driven by an impairment charge and increased reserves for bad loans linked to an auto parts manufacturer's bankruptcy

As of last close, FGBI stock down 57.8% YTD