Yahoo Finance Need To Know: Upwork Inc. (NASDAQ:UPWK) Insiders Have Been Buying Shares
We often see insiders buying up shares in companies that perform well over the long term. On the other hand, we'd be remiss not to mention that insider sales have been known to precede tough periods for a business. So we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in Upwork Inc. (NASDAQ:UPWK).
What Is Insider Selling?
It's quite normal to see company insiders, such as board members, trading in company stock, from time to time. However, such insiders must disclose their trading activities, and not trade on inside information.
We don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions. But it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. For example, a Columbia University study found that 'insiders are more likely to engage in open market purchases of their own company’s stock when the firm is about to reveal new agreements with customers and suppliers'.
Check out our latest analysis for Upwork
The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Upwork
The Independent Director Gregory Gretsch made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$8.1m worth of shares at a price of US$14.95 each. Although we like to see insider buying, we note that this large purchase was at significantly below the recent price of US$44.77. Because the shares were purchased at a lower price, this particular buy doesn't tell us much about how insiders feel about the current share price.
Gregory Gretsch purchased 1.09m shares over the year. The average price per share was US$12.34. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!
Upwork is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.
Insider Ownership of Upwork
I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. It's great to see that Upwork insiders own 9.5% of the company, worth about US$502m. Most shareholders would be happy to see this sort of insider ownership, since it suggests that management incentives are well aligned with other shareholders.
So What Does This Data Suggest About Upwork Insiders?
It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Upwork shares in the last quarter. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. Judging from their transactions, and high insider ownership, Upwork insiders feel good about the company's future. While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. At Simply Wall St, we found 2 warning signs for Upwork that deserve your attention before buying any shares.
Of course Upwork may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies.
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.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. 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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