Keller Group plc (LON:KLR) Insiders Increased Their Holdings

We've lost count of how many times insiders have accumulated shares in a company that goes on to improve markedly. 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 before you buy or sell Keller Group plc (LON:KLR), you may well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling.

Do Insider Transactions Matter?

Most investors know that it is quite permissible for company leaders, such as directors of the board, to buy and sell stock in the company. However, rules govern insider transactions, and certain disclosures are required.

We don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions. But logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. 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'.

See our latest analysis for Keller Group

Keller Group Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Engineering & Operations Director and Executive Director Venu Raju bought UK£114k worth of shares at a price of UK£5.70 per share. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, at around the current price, which is UK£7.12. Of course they may have changed their mind. But this suggests they are optimistic. We do always like to see insider buying, but it is worth noting if those purchases were made at well below today's share price, as the discount to value may have narrowed with the rising price. The good news for Keller Group share holders is that insiders were buying at near the current price.

Keller Group insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by individuals) over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

Keller Group is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Keller Group Insiders Bought Stock Recently

Over the last quarter, Keller Group insiders have spent a meaningful amount on shares. In total, insiders bought UK£330k worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any sales whatsoever. That shows some optimism about the company's future.

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. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. From looking at our data, insiders own UK£3.2m worth of Keller Group stock, about 0.6% of the company. I generally like to see higher levels of ownership.

What Might The Insider Transactions At Keller Group Tell Us?

The recent insider purchases are heartening. And an analysis of the transactions over the last year also gives us confidence. However, we note that the company didn't make a profit over the last twelve months, which makes us cautious. We would certainly prefer see higher levels of insider ownership but analysis of the insider transactions suggests that Keller Group insiders are expecting a bright future. Therefore, you should should definitely take a look at this FREE report showing analyst forecasts for Keller Group.

But note: Keller 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.

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.

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