Don't Ignore The Insider Selling In Artisan Partners Asset Management

Anyone interested in Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. (NYSE:APAM) should probably be aware that the Executive Vice President, Gregory Ramirez, recently divested US$255k worth of shares in the company, at an average price of US$43.16 each. However, the silver lining is that the sale only reduced their total holding by 5.3%, so we're hesitant to read anything much into it, on its own.

Check out our latest analysis for Artisan Partners Asset Management

Artisan Partners Asset Management Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

In fact, the recent sale by Gregory Ramirez was the biggest sale of Artisan Partners Asset Management shares made by an insider individual in the last twelve months, according to our records. So what is clear is that an insider saw fit to sell at around the current price of US$39.54. While insider selling is a negative, to us, it is more negative if the shares are sold at a lower price. In this case, the big sale took place at around the current price, so it's not too bad (but it's still not a positive).

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

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 Artisan Partners Asset Management 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. It appears that Artisan Partners Asset Management insiders own 2.5% of the company, worth about US$69m. 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 Artisan Partners Asset Management Insiders?

An insider hasn't bought Artisan Partners Asset Management 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 since Artisan Partners Asset Management is profitable and growing, we're not too worried by this. Insider ownership isn't particularly high, so this analysis makes us cautious about the company. We'd practice some caution before buying! In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Artisan Partners Asset Management. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Artisan Partners Asset Management you should know about.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

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.