Stock Analysis

    Do Institutions Own Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALSK) Shares?

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    If you want to know who really controls Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALSK), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. Institutions will often hold stock in bigger companies, and we expect to see insiders owning a noticeable percentage of the smaller ones. I quite like to see at least a little bit of insider ownership. As Charlie Munger said 'Show me the incentive and I will show you the outcome.'

    Alaska Communications Systems Group is not a large company by global standards. It has a market capitalization of US$90m, which means it wouldn't have the attention of many institutional investors. Our analysis of the ownership of the company, below, shows that institutional investors have bought into the company. We can zoom in on the different ownership groups, to learn more about ALSK.

    See our latest analysis for Alaska Communications Systems Group

    NasdaqGS:ALSK Ownership Summary, June 7th 2019
    NasdaqGS:ALSK Ownership Summary, June 7th 2019
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    What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Alaska Communications Systems Group?

    Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

    Alaska Communications Systems Group already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own 42% of the company. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Alaska Communications Systems Group's earnings history, below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

    NasdaqGS:ALSK Income Statement, June 7th 2019
    NasdaqGS:ALSK Income Statement, June 7th 2019

    Hedge funds don't have many shares in Alaska Communications Systems Group. Our information suggests that there isn't any analyst coverage of the stock, so it is probably little known.

    Insider Ownership Of Alaska Communications Systems Group

    The definition of company insiders can be subjective, and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. The company management answer to the board; and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board, themselves.

    I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

    It seems insiders own a significant proportion of Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc.. Insiders have a US$11m stake in this US$90m business. This may suggest that the founders still own a lot of shares. You can click here to see if they have been buying or selling.

    General Public Ownership

    The general public, with a 46% stake in the company, will not easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

    Next Steps:

    While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important.

    I always like to check for a history of revenue growth. You can too, by accessing this free chart of historic revenue and earnings in this detailed graph.

    Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

    NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

    We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

    If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. 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. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.