Some NEXT plc (LON:NXT) shareholders may be a little concerned to see that the CEO & Executive Director, Simon Wolfson, recently sold a substantial UK£27m worth of stock at a price of UK£157 per share. That sale reduced their total holding by 17% which is hardly insignificant, but far from the worst we've seen.
The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At NEXT
In fact, the recent sale by Simon Wolfson was the biggest sale of NEXT shares made by an insider individual in the last twelve months, according to our records. That means that an insider was selling shares at around the current price of UK£157. While insider selling is a negative, to us, it is more negative if the shares are sold at a lower price. We note that this sale took place at around the current price, so it isn't a major concern, though it's hardly a good sign.
In total, NEXT insiders sold more than they bought over the last year. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!
Check out our latest analysis for NEXT
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Does NEXT Boast High Insider Ownership?
Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by 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 NEXT insiders own 1.1% of the company, worth about UK£199m. 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 NEXT Tell Us?
Insiders sold stock recently, but they haven't been buying. Despite some insider buying, the longer term picture doesn't make us feel much more positive. But it is good to see that NEXT is growing earnings. 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 NEXT. To assist with this, we've discovered 2 warning signs that you should run your eye over to get a better picture of NEXT.
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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.