Harvest Technology Group Ltd (ASX:HTG) insiders need another AU$3.4m to breakeven on a AU$6.8m stock purchase even after recent gains

Insiders who purchased AU$6.8m worth of Harvest Technology Group Ltd (ASX:HTG) shares over the past year recouped some of their losses after price gained 13% last week. However, the purchase is proving to be a costly gamble, since losses made by insiders have totalled AU$3.4m since the time of purchase.

While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.

Check out our latest analysis for Harvest Technology Group

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Harvest Technology Group

The insider Carl Charalambous made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for AU$2.6m worth of shares at a price of AU$0.38 each. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being AU$0.17). 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. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. It is encouraging to see an insider paid above the current price for shares, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels. Carl Charalambous was the only individual insider to buy during the last year. Notably Carl Charalambous was also the biggest seller.

Carl Charalambous bought a total of 19.91m shares over the year at an average price of AU$0.34. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

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

Insider Ownership of Harvest Technology Group

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. Insiders own 25% of Harvest Technology Group shares, worth about AU$25m. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment.

So What Do The Harvest Technology Group Insider Transactions Indicate?

There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. Overall we don't see anything to make us think Harvest Technology Group insiders are doubting the company, and they do own shares. While we like knowing 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. Case in point: We've spotted 3 warning signs for Harvest Technology Group you should be aware of.

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.

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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.