Yahoo Finance How Many Coles Group Limited (ASX:COL) Shares Did Insiders Buy, In The Last Year?
We've lost count of how many times insiders have accumulated shares in a company that goes on to improve markedly. On the other hand, we'd be remiss not to mention that insider sales have been known to precede tough periods for a business. So shareholders might well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in Coles Group Limited (ASX:COL).
Do Insider Transactions Matter?
It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, rules govern insider transactions, and certain disclosures are required.
We don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions. But equally, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. For example, a Columbia University study found that 'insiders are more likely to engage in open market purchases of their own company’s stock when the firm is about to reveal new agreements with customers and suppliers'.
See our latest analysis for Coles Group
Coles Group Insider Transactions Over The Last Year
In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when MD, CEO & Director Steven Cain bought AU$458k worth of shares at a price of AU$11.59 per share. Even though the purchase was made at a significantly lower price than the recent price (AU$15.24), we still think insider buying is a positive. While it does suggest insiders consider the stock undervalued at lower prices, this transaction doesn't tell us much about what they think of current prices.
Over the last year, we can see that insiders have bought 147585 shares worth AU$1.8m. But they sold 800 for AU$9.1k. In total, Coles Group insiders bought more than they sold over the last year. The chart below shows insider transactions (by 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!
Coles Group is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.
Coles Group Insiders Bought Stock Recently
Over the last quarter, Coles Group insiders have spent a meaningful amount on shares. Overall, three insiders shelled out AU$633k for shares in the company -- and none sold. This is a positive in our book as it implies some confidence.
Insider Ownership of Coles Group
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. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Coles Group insiders own about AU$33m worth of shares. That equates to 0.2% 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 Do The Coles Group Insider Transactions Indicate?
It's certainly positive to see the recent insider purchases. And an analysis of the transactions over the last year also gives us confidence. Given that insiders also own a fair bit of Coles Group we think they are probably pretty confident of a bright future. Of course, the future is what matters most. So if you are interested in Coles Group, you should check out this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.
Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting 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, but not derivative transactions.
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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.
