Have Insiders Sold Ameris Bancorp Shares Recently?

We wouldn't blame Ameris Bancorp (NYSE:ABCB) shareholders if they were a little worried about the fact that Robert Ezzell, the Independent Director recently netted about US$559k selling shares at an average price of US$69.91. That sale reduced their total holding by 23% which is hardly insignificant, but far from the worst we've seen.

Check out our latest analysis for Ameris Bancorp

Ameris Bancorp Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Notably, that recent sale by Robert Ezzell is the biggest insider sale of Ameris Bancorp shares that we've seen in the last year. That means that an insider was selling shares at around the current price of US$69.70. We generally don't like to see insider selling, but the lower the sale price, the more it concerns us. Given that the sale took place at around current prices, it makes us a little cautious but is hardly a major concern.

Ameris Bancorp insiders didn't buy any shares over the last year. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

If you like to buy stocks that insiders are buying, rather than selling, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: Most of them are flying under the radar).

Does Ameris Bancorp Boast High Insider Ownership?

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. Ameris Bancorp insiders own about US$269m worth of shares (which is 5.6% of the company). I like to see this level of insider ownership, because it increases the chances that management are thinking about the best interests of shareholders.

So What Does This Data Suggest About Ameris Bancorp Insiders?

An insider sold Ameris Bancorp shares recently, but they didn't buy any. Looking to the last twelve months, our data doesn't show any insider buying. On the plus side, Ameris Bancorp makes money, and is growing profits. The company boasts high insider ownership, but we're a little hesitant, given the history of share sales. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Ameris Bancorp. Case in point: We've spotted 1 warning sign for Ameris Bancorp you should be aware of.

But note: Ameris Bancorp 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.