Have Apellis Pharmaceuticals Insiders Been Selling Stock?

Anyone interested in Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:APLS) should probably be aware that the Co-Founder, Cedric Francois, recently divested US$412k worth of shares in the company, at an average price of US$30.43 each. On the bright side, that sale was only 0.8% of their holding, so we doubt it's very meaningful, on its own.

View our latest analysis for Apellis Pharmaceuticals

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Apellis Pharmaceuticals

In the last twelve months, the biggest single sale by an insider was when the insider, Nur Nicholson, sold US$646k worth of shares at a price of US$58.13 per share. While we don't usually like to see insider selling, it's more concerning if the sales take place at a lower price. It's of some comfort that this sale was conducted at a price well above the current share price, which is US$30.00. So it may not shed much light on insider confidence at current levels.

In the last year Apellis Pharmaceuticals insiders didn't buy any company stock. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. 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).

Insider Ownership Of Apellis Pharmaceuticals

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Apellis Pharmaceuticals insiders own 3.5% of the company, currently worth about US$135m based on the recent share price. 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 Apellis Pharmaceuticals Insiders?

Insiders haven't bought Apellis Pharmaceuticals stock in the last three months, but there was some selling. And there weren't any purchases to give us comfort, over the last year. 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. While it's good to be aware of 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. Case in point: We've spotted 1 warning sign for Apellis Pharmaceuticals you should be aware of.

But note: Apellis Pharmaceuticals 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 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.