The recent R$81m market cap decrease is likely to have disappointed insiders invested in Grupo Multi S.A. (BVMF:MLAS3)

Key Insights

• Significant insider control over Grupo Multi implies vested interests in company growth
• The top 2 shareholders own 70% of the company
• Past performance of a company along with ownership data serve to give a strong idea about prospects for a business

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Every investor in Grupo Multi S.A. (BVMF:MLAS3) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. With 76% stake, individual insiders possess the maximum shares in the company. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

As a result, insiders as a group endured the highest losses after market cap fell by R$81m.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Grupo Multi.

View our latest analysis for Grupo Multi

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Grupo Multi?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

We can see that Grupo Multi does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Grupo Multi's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Grupo Multi. Our data shows that Alexandre Ostrowiecki is the largest shareholder with 42% of shares outstanding. With 29% and 6.1% of the shares outstanding respectively, Renato Fedder and Edward Feder are the second and third largest shareholders. Edward Feder, who is the third-largest shareholder, also happens to hold the title of Member of the Board of Directors.

A more detailed study of the shareholder registry showed us that 2 of the top shareholders have a considerable amount of ownership in the company, via their 70% stake.

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. While there is some analyst coverage, the company is probably not widely covered. So it could gain more attention, down the track.

Insider Ownership Of Grupo Multi

The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own the majority of Grupo Multi S.A.. This means they can collectively make decisions for the company. Given it has a market cap of R$719m, that means they have R$549m worth of shares. Most would argue this is a positive, showing strong alignment with shareholders. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public-- including retail investors -- own 18% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Take risks for example - Grupo Multi has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of.

Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

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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.