Las Vegas Sands Chairman Robert Goldstein Sells 59% Of Holding

Some Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS) shareholders may be a little concerned to see that the Chairman, Robert Goldstein, recently sold a substantial US$6.4m worth of stock at a price of US$53.73 per share. That diminished their holding by a very significant 59%, which arguably implies a strong desire to reallocate capital.

View our latest analysis for Las Vegas Sands

Las Vegas Sands Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider sale was by the insider, Miriam Adelson, for US$2.0b worth of shares, at about US$43.23 per share. That means that an insider was selling shares at slightly below the current price (US$51.73). 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. This single sale was just 18% of Miriam Adelson's stake.

Las Vegas Sands 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 Las Vegas Sands Boast High Insider Ownership?

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Las Vegas Sands insiders own 24% of the company, currently worth about US$9.0b based on the recent share price. 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 Do The Las Vegas Sands Insider Transactions Indicate?

An insider hasn't bought Las Vegas Sands stock in the last three months, but there was some selling. And even if we look at the last year, we didn't see any purchases. But it is good to see that Las Vegas Sands is growing earnings. It is good to see high insider ownership, but the insider selling leaves us cautious. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. In terms of investment risks, we've identified 3 warning signs with Las Vegas Sands and understanding these should be part of your investment process.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity 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.