Stock Analysis

Have Insiders Sold Hersha Hospitality Trust (NYSE:HT) Shares Recently?

NYSE:HT
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We'd be surprised if Hersha Hospitality Trust (NYSE:HT) shareholders haven't noticed that the Independent Trustee, Thomas Hutchison, recently sold US$145k worth of stock at US$14.45 per share. That sale was 11% of their holding, so it does make us raise an eyebrow.

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Hersha Hospitality Trust Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

In fact, the recent sale by Independent Trustee Thomas Hutchison was not their only sale of Hersha Hospitality Trust shares this year. They previously made an even bigger sale of -US$169.4k worth of shares at a price of US$16.94 per share. While insider selling is a negative, to us, it is more negative if the shares are sold at a lower price. It's of some comfort that this sale was conducted at a price well above the current share price, which is US$13.88. So it is hard to draw any strong conclusion from it.

In the last twelve months insiders purchased 40189 shares for US$588k. On the other hand they divested 20000 shares, for US$314k. In total, Hersha Hospitality Trust insiders bought more than they sold over the last year. The chart below shows insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

Hersha Hospitality Trust 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.

NYSE:HT Recent Insider Trading, November 22nd 2019
NYSE:HT Recent Insider Trading, November 22nd 2019

Does Hersha Hospitality Trust Boast High Insider Ownership?

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. Insiders own 4.6% of Hersha Hospitality Trust shares, worth about US$28m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

What Might The Insider Transactions At Hersha Hospitality Trust Tell Us?

The recent insider purchases are heartening. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. But on the other hand, the company made a loss last year, which makes us a little cautious. Insiders likely see value in Hersha Hospitality Trust shares, given these transactions (along with notable insider ownership of the company). Of course, the future is what matters most. So if you are interested in Hersha Hospitality Trust, you should check out this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

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

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.

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. Thank you for reading.

About NYSE:HT

Hersha Hospitality Trust

Hersha Hospitality Trust (HT) is a self-advised real estate investment trust in the hospitality sector, which owns and operates luxury and lifestyle hotels in coastal gateway and resort markets.

Imperfect balance sheet unattractive dividend payer.

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