Yahoo Finance Bullish insiders bet US$1.5m on Cowen Inc. (NASDAQ:COWN)
Over the last year, a good number of insiders have significantly increased their holdings in Cowen Inc. (NASDAQ:COWN). This is encouraging because it indicates that insiders are more optimistic about the company's prospects.
While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.
See our latest analysis for Cowen
The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Cowen
In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Independent Director Lorence Kim bought US$901k worth of shares at a price of US$30.03 per share. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being US$23.74). Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock if insiders have bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price.
While Cowen insiders bought shares during the last year, they didn't sell. 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!
Cowen is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.
Cowen Insiders Bought Stock Recently
Over the last quarter, Cowen insiders have spent a meaningful amount on shares. Not only was there no selling that we can see, but they collectively bought US$1.2m worth of shares. This makes one think the business has some good points.
Insider Ownership
I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. Cowen insiders own about US$34m worth of shares. That equates to 5.4% of the company. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.
So What Does This Data Suggest About Cowen Insiders?
It is good to see recent purchasing. And the longer term insider transactions also give us confidence. Insiders likely see value in Cowen shares, given these transactions (along with notable insider ownership of the company). 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. Case in point: We've spotted 4 warning signs for Cowen you should be aware of, and 1 of these is a bit concerning.
But note: Cowen 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. 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.
