Shareholders might want to keep a close eye on Robert Walters plc (LON:RWA) after insiders sold UK£2.8m stock earlier this year

While it’s been a great week for Robert Walters plc (LON:RWA) shareholders after stock gained 7.7%, they should consider it with a grain of salt. In spite of the relatively cheap prices, insiders made the decision to sell UK£2.8m worth of stock in the last 12 months. This could be a warning indicator of vulnerabilities in the future.

While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

Check out our latest analysis for Robert Walters

Robert Walters Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider sale was by the Founder, Robert Walters, for UK£2.8m worth of shares, at about UK£6.60 per share. That means that an insider was selling shares at slightly below the current price (UK£8.42). When an insider sells below the current price, it suggests that they considered that lower price to be fair. That makes us wonder what they think of the (higher) recent valuation. Please do note, however, that sellers may have a variety of reasons for selling, so we don't know for sure what they think of the stock price. It is worth noting that this sale was only 16% of Robert Walters's holding. Robert Walters was the only individual insider to sell shares in the last twelve months.

The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

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Does Robert Walters Boast High Insider Ownership?

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Robert Walters insiders own about UK£25m worth of shares. That equates to 4.1% of the company. 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 Robert Walters Insiders?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Robert Walters shares in the last quarter. Our analysis of Robert Walters insider transactions leaves us cautious. The modest level of insider ownership is, at least, some comfort. 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 1 warning sign for Robert Walters you should be aware of.

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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.