Trade Alert: Director Of Viasat Richard Baldridge Has Sold Stock

Some Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSAT) shareholders may be a little concerned to see that the Director, Richard Baldridge, recently sold a substantial US$3.1m worth of stock at a price of US$31.00 per share. That sale reduced their total holding by 28% which is hardly insignificant, but far from the worst we've seen.

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The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Viasat

Notably, that recent sale by Richard Baldridge is the biggest insider sale of Viasat shares that we've seen in the last year. That means that an insider was selling shares at slightly below the current price (US$31.69). 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. However, while insider selling is sometimes discouraging, it's only a weak signal. This single sale was just 28% of Richard Baldridge's stake.

Viasat insiders didn't buy any shares over the last year. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

Check out our latest analysis for Viasat

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).

Does Viasat 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. Viasat insiders own about US$140m worth of shares (which is 3.2% 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 Viasat Insiders?

An insider sold stock recently, but they haven't been buying. And there weren't any purchases to give us comfort, over the last year. The company boasts high insider ownership, but we're a little hesitant, given the history of share sales. 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. For example - Viasat has 3 warning signs we think you should be aware of.

But note: Viasat 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.