Trade Alert: The Co-Founder & Lead Independent Director Of HCI Group, Inc. (NYSE:HCI), Gregory Politis, Has Just Spent US$60k Buying A Few More Shares
Even if it's not a huge purchase, we think it was good to see that Gregory Politis, the Co-Founder & Lead Independent Director of HCI Group, Inc. (NYSE:HCI) recently shelled out US$60k to buy stock, at US$59.50 per share. Nevertheless, it only increased their shareholding by a minuscule percentage, and it wasn't a massive purchase by absolute value, either.
View our latest analysis for HCI Group
HCI Group Insider Transactions Over The Last Year
In fact, the recent purchase by Co-Founder & Lead Independent Director Gregory Politis was not their only acquisition of HCI Group shares this year. They previously made an even bigger purchase of US$137k worth of shares at a price of US$68.38 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of US$57.77. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock if insiders have bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price.
Happily, we note that in the last year insiders paid US$435k for 6.63k shares. But insiders sold 784.00 shares worth US$54k. Overall, HCI Group insiders were net buyers during the last year. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!
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.
Does HCI Group Boast High Insider Ownership?
Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. HCI Group insiders own about US$107m worth of shares (which is 21% of the company). 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 HCI Group Insiders?
It's certainly positive to see the recent insider purchases. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. But on the other hand, the company made a loss during the last year, which makes us a little cautious. When combined with notable insider ownership, these factors suggest HCI Group insiders are well aligned, and quite possibly think the share price is too low. Looks promising! 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. When we did our research, we found 2 warning signs for HCI Group (1 is a bit concerning!) that we believe deserve your full attention.
If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity 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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