We wouldn't blame ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. (NYSE:SFBS) shareholders if they were a little worried about the fact that Joseph Cashio, the Independent Director recently netted about US$3.1m selling shares at an average price of US$74.50. However, it's crucial to note that they remain very much invested in the stock and that sale only reduced their holding by 7.4%.
ServisFirst Bancshares Insider Transactions Over The Last Year
Notably, that recent sale by Joseph Cashio is the biggest insider sale of ServisFirst Bancshares shares that we've seen in the last year. That means that an insider was selling shares at around the current price of US$73.86. We generally don't like to see insider selling, but the lower the sale price, the more it concerns us. In this case, the big sale took place at around the current price, so it's not too bad (but it's still not a positive).
Insiders in ServisFirst Bancshares didn't buy any shares in 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 ServisFirst Bancshares
For those who like to find hidden gems this free list of small cap companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.
Insider Ownership Of ServisFirst Bancshares
Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. ServisFirst Bancshares insiders own about US$309m worth of shares (which is 7.6% 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.
What Might The Insider Transactions At ServisFirst Bancshares Tell Us?
An insider sold ServisFirst Bancshares shares recently, but they didn't buy any. And even if we look at the last year, we didn't see any purchases. But it is good to see that ServisFirst Bancshares is growing earnings. The company boasts high insider ownership, but we're a little hesitant, given the history of share sales. Of course, the future is what matters most. So if you are interested in ServisFirst Bancshares, you should check out this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.
Of course ServisFirst Bancshares may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality 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 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.