Yahoo Finance HCI Group, Inc. (NYSE:HCI) insiders placed bullish bets worth US$642k in the last 12 months
Usually, when one insider buys stock, it might not be a monumental event. But when multiple insiders are buying like they did in the case of HCI Group, Inc. (NYSE:HCI), that sends out a positive message to the company's shareholders.
While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.
See our latest analysis for HCI Group
The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At HCI Group
The Co-Founder & Lead Independent Director Gregory Politis made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$137k worth of shares at a price of US$68.38 each. That means that even when the share price was higher than US$47.00 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price.
HCI Group insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. They paid about US$57.24 on average. I'd consider this a positive as it suggests insiders see value at around the current price. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!
HCI Group is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.
HCI Group Insiders Bought Stock Recently
Over the last quarter, HCI Group insiders have spent a meaningful amount on shares. In total, insiders bought US$73k worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any sales whatsoever. This could be interpreted as suggesting a positive outlook.
Insider Ownership Of HCI Group
Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. It appears that HCI Group insiders own 21% of the company, worth about US$85m. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment.
So What Does This Data Suggest About HCI Group Insiders?
The recent insider purchases are heartening. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. But we don't feel the same about the fact the company is making losses. When combined with notable insider ownership, these factors suggest HCI Group insiders are well aligned, and that they may think the share price is too low. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing HCI Group. Case in point: We've spotted 1 warning sign for HCI Group you should be aware of.
But note: HCI Group may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt.
For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.
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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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