Usually, when one insider buys stock, it might not be a monumental event. But when multiple insiders are buying like they did in the case of ECP Emerging Growth Limited (ASX:ECP), that sends out a positive message to the company's shareholders.
Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.
The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At ECP Emerging Growth
The insider Emmanuel Pohl made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for AU$379k worth of shares at a price of AU$1.58 each. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being AU$1.16). 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. We always take careful note of the price insiders pay when purchasing shares. It is generally more encouraging if they paid above the current price, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels.
In the last twelve months ECP Emerging Growth insiders were buying shares, but not selling. Their average price was about AU$1.25. This is nice to see since it implies that insiders might see value around current prices. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!
View our latest analysis for ECP Emerging Growth
ECP Emerging Growth is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of under-the-radar companies with insider buying.
Insider Ownership Of ECP Emerging Growth
Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. ECP Emerging Growth insiders own about AU$7.9m worth of shares. That equates to 37% of the company. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders.
So What Do The ECP Emerging Growth Insider Transactions Indicate?
It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded ECP Emerging Growth shares in the last quarter. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. Insiders do have a stake in ECP Emerging Growth and their transactions don't cause us concern. While it's good to be aware of 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. To that end, you should learn about the 6 warning signs we've spotted with ECP Emerging Growth (including 2 which are potentially serious).
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 of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.
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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.