Stock Analysis

The Director of Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE:ASB), John Williams, Just Bought 16.666666% More Shares

NYSE:ASB
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Whilst it may not be a huge deal, we thought it was good to see that the Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE:ASB) Director, John Williams, recently bought US$20k worth of stock, for US$20.33 per share. That purchase might not be huge but it did increase their holding by 16.7%.

View our latest analysis for Associated Banc-Corp

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Associated Banc-Corp Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

The insider, Timothy Lau, made the biggest insider sale in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$270k worth of shares at a price of US$22.54 each. That means that an insider was selling shares at around the current price of US$19.86. We generally don't like to see insider selling, but the lower the sale price, the more it concerns us. We note that this sale took place at around the current price, so it isn't a major concern, though it's hardly a good sign.

Happily, we note that in the last year insiders paid US$23k for 1106.6 shares. But they sold 60152 for US$1.4m. In total, Associated Banc-Corp insiders sold more than they bought over the last year. The chart below shows insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

NYSE:ASB Recent Insider Trading, August 14th 2019
NYSE:ASB Recent Insider Trading, August 14th 2019

Insider Ownership of Associated Banc-Corp

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It appears that Associated Banc-Corp insiders own 1.7% of the company, worth about US$54m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

So What Does This Data Suggest About Associated Banc-Corp Insiders?

The insider sales have outweighed the insider buying, at Associated Banc-Corp, in the last three months. Zooming out, the longer term picture doesn't give us much comfort. But since Associated Banc-Corp is profitable and growing, we're not too worried by this. While insiders do own shares, they don't own a heap, and they have been selling. We're in no rush to buy! If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future.

But note: Associated Banc-Corp 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.

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.