Cohen & Steers Executive VP & Head of Global Distribution Daniel Charles Sells 53% Of Holding

Some Cohen & Steers, Inc. (NYSE:CNS) shareholders may be a little concerned to see that the Executive VP & Head of Global Distribution, Daniel Charles, recently sold a substantial US$712k worth of stock at a price of US$104 per share. That diminished their holding by a very significant 53%, which arguably implies a strong desire to reallocate capital.

See our latest analysis for Cohen & Steers

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Cohen & Steers

The Executive VP, Francis Poli, made the biggest insider sale in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$1.4m worth of shares at a price of US$94.62 each. That means that even when the share price was below the current price of US$101, an insider wanted to cash in some shares. We generally consider it a negative if insiders have been selling, especially if they did so below the current price, because it implies that they considered a lower price to be reasonable. While insider selling is not a positive sign, we can't be sure if it does mean insiders think the shares are fully valued, so it's only a weak sign. It is worth noting that this sale was only 19% of Francis Poli's holding.

Cohen & Steers 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!

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Does Cohen & Steers Boast High Insider Ownership?

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. Cohen & Steers insiders own about US$2.4b worth of shares (which is 46% 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 Cohen & Steers Insiders?

Insiders sold stock recently, but they haven't been buying. And even if we look at the last year, we didn't see any purchases. But since Cohen & Steers is profitable and growing, we're not too worried by this. While insiders do own a lot of shares in the company (which is good), our analysis of their transactions doesn't make us feel confident about the company. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. In terms of investment risks, we've identified 3 warning signs with Cohen & Steers and understanding these should be part of your investment process.

Of course Cohen & Steers may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality 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.