Executive VP and Head of Global Technology & Operations Bill Pappas Sold A Bunch Of Shares In MetLife

We wouldn't blame MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) shareholders if they were a little worried about the fact that Bill Pappas, the Executive VP and Head of Global Technology & Operations recently netted about US$2.1m selling shares at an average price of US$80.49. That sale reduced their total holding by 33% which is hardly insignificant, but far from the worst we've seen.

Our free stock report includes 2 warning signs investors should be aware of before investing in MetLife. Read for free now.

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At MetLife

Notably, that recent sale by Bill Pappas is the biggest insider sale of MetLife shares that we've seen in the last year. So we know that an insider sold shares at around the present share price of US$80.46. 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 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!

View our latest analysis for MetLife

I will like MetLife better if I see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of undervalued and small cap stocks with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Insider Ownership Of MetLife

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. MetLife insiders own about US$118m worth of shares (which is 0.2% 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 MetLife Insiders?

An insider hasn't bought MetLife 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 MetLife 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. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing MetLife. At Simply Wall St, we found 2 warning signs for MetLife that deserve your attention before buying any shares.

Of course MetLife 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.