Have Oil States International, Inc. (NYSE:OIS) Insiders Been Selling Their Stock?

Anyone interested in Oil States International, Inc. (NYSE:OIS) should probably be aware that a company insider, Christopher Cragg, recently divested US$285k worth of shares in the company, at an average price of US$8.49 each. The eyebrow raising move amounted to a reduction of 15% in their holding.

See our latest analysis for Oil States International

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Oil States International

Notably, that recent sale by Christopher Cragg is the biggest insider sale of Oil States International shares that we've seen in the last year. That means that an insider was selling shares at slightly below the current price (US$8.96). 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. However, while insider selling is sometimes discouraging, it's only a weak signal. It is worth noting that this sale was only 15% of Christopher Cragg's holding.

Over the last year, we can see that insiders have bought 88.00k shares worth US$193k. But they sold 33.58k shares for US$285k. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, 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: insiders have been buying them).

Does Oil States International Boast High Insider Ownership?

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Insiders own 4.0% of Oil States International shares, worth about US$21m. 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 Oil States International Insiders?

An insider hasn't bought Oil States International stock in the last three months, but there was some selling. And our longer term analysis of insider transactions didn't bring confidence, either. While insiders do own shares, they don't own a heap, and they have been selling. We're in no rush to buy! 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. At Simply Wall St, we found 2 warning signs for Oil States International that deserve your attention before buying any shares.

But note: Oil States International 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, but not derivative transactions.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. 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.
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