
We wouldn't blame Zions Bancorporation, National Association (NASDAQ:ZION) shareholders if they were a little worried about the fact that Scott McLean, the President recently netted about US$3.5m selling shares at an average price of US$70.74. That sale reduced their total holding by 34% which is hardly insignificant, but far from the worst we've seen.
Notably, that recent sale by Scott McLean is the biggest insider sale of Zions Bancorporation National Association shares that we've seen in the last year. That means that an insider was selling shares at around the current price of US$70.58. While insider selling is a negative, to us, it is more negative if the shares are sold at a lower price. Given that the sale took place at around current prices, it makes us a little cautious but is hardly a major concern.
In total, Zions Bancorporation National Association insiders sold more than they bought over the last year. 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!
See our latest analysis for Zions Bancorporation National Association
I will like Zions Bancorporation National Association better if I see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of undervalued and small cap stocks with considerable, recent, insider buying.
For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company 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. It's great to see that Zions Bancorporation National Association insiders own 1.6% of the company, worth about US$165m. I like to see this level of insider ownership, because it increases the chances that management are thinking about the best interests of shareholders.
Insiders sold Zions Bancorporation National Association shares recently, but they didn't buy any. And our longer term analysis of insider transactions didn't bring confidence, either. But since Zions Bancorporation National Association is profitable and growing, we're not too worried by this. The company boasts high insider ownership, but we're a little hesitant, given the history of share sales. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Zions Bancorporation National Association. When we did our research, we found 2 warning signs for Zions Bancorporation National Association (1 doesn't sit too well with us!) that we believe deserve your full attention.
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 of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.
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