Stock Analysis

Do Insiders Own Lots Of Shares In ZK International Group Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ:ZKIN)?

NasdaqCM:ZKIN
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A look at the shareholders of ZK International Group Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ:ZKIN) can tell us which group is most powerful. Large companies usually have institutions as shareholders, and we usually see insiders owning shares in smaller companies. I quite like to see at least a little bit of insider ownership. As Charlie Munger said 'Show me the incentive and I will show you the outcome.'

ZK International Group is a smaller company with a market capitalization of US$24m, so it may still be flying under the radar of many institutional investors. Taking a look at our data on the ownership groups (below), it's seems that institutional investors have not yet purchased shares. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholder can tell us about ZKIN.

See our latest analysis for ZK International Group

NasdaqCM:ZKIN Ownership Summary, March 14th 2019
NasdaqCM:ZKIN Ownership Summary, March 14th 2019
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What Does The Lack Of Institutional Ownership Tell Us About ZK International Group?

Institutional investors often avoid companies that are too small, too illiquid or too risky for their tastes. But it's unusual to see larger companies without any institutional investors.

There are many reasons why a company might not have any institutions on the share registry. It may be hard for institutions to buy large amounts of shares, if liquidity (the amount of shares traded each day) is low. If the company has not needed to raise capital, institutions might lack the opportunity to build a position. On the other hand, it's always possible that professional investors are avoiding a company because they don't think it's the best place for their money. ZK International Group might not have the sort of past performance institutions are looking for, or perhaps they simply have not studied the business closely.

NasdaqCM:ZKIN Income Statement, March 14th 2019
NasdaqCM:ZKIN Income Statement, March 14th 2019

Hedge funds don't have many shares in ZK International Group. Our information suggests that there isn't any analyst coverage of the stock, so it is probably little known.

Insider Ownership Of ZK International Group

The definition of company insiders can be subjective, and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own the majority of ZK International Group Co., Ltd.. This means they can collectively make decisions for the company. Given it has a market cap of US$24m, that means they have US$13m worth of shares. It is good to see this level of investment. You can check here to see if those insiders have been buying recently.

General Public Ownership

The general public, with a 45% stake in the company, will not easily be ignored. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too.

I always like to check for a history of revenue growth. You can too, by accessing this free chart of historic revenue and earnings in this detailed graph.

Of course this may not be the best stock to buy. Therefore, you may wish to see our free collection of interesting prospects boasting favorable financials.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. 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. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.