Ashtead Technology Holdings Independent Non-Executive Chairman Acquires 25% More Stock

Whilst it may not be a huge deal, we thought it was good to see that the Ashtead Technology Holdings Plc (LON:AT.) Independent Non-Executive Chairman, William Mervyn Frew Shannon, recently bought UK£72k worth of stock, for UK£5.50 per share. While we're hesitant to get too excited about a purchase of that size, we do note it increased their holding by a solid 25%.

See our latest analysis for Ashtead Technology Holdings

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Ashtead Technology Holdings

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider sale was by the CEO & Executive Director, Allan Pirie, for UK£2.4m worth of shares, at about UK£5.96 per share. So what is clear is that an insider saw fit to sell at around the current price of UK£5.51. While we don't usually like to see insider selling, it's more concerning if the sales take place at a lower price. Given that the sale took place at around current prices, it makes us a little cautious but is hardly a major concern.

In total, Ashtead Technology Holdings insiders sold more than they bought over the last year. 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!

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Does Ashtead Technology Holdings Boast High Insider Ownership?

I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. Insiders own 2.2% of Ashtead Technology Holdings shares, worth about UK£9.6m. 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 Does This Data Suggest About Ashtead Technology Holdings Insiders?

The recent insider purchase is heartening. However, the longer term transactions are not so encouraging. The transactions over the last year don't give us confidence, and nor does the fairly low insider ownership, but at least the recent buying is a positive. 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. For example - Ashtead Technology Holdings has 2 warning signs we think you should be aware of.

But note: Ashtead Technology Holdings 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 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.