Have Insiders Sold Huntington Ingalls Industries Shares Recently?
We'd be surprised if Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII) shareholders haven't noticed that the Independent Director, Victoria Harker, recently sold US$241k worth of stock at US$333 per share. That sale was 24% of their holding, so it does make us raise an eyebrow.
Huntington Ingalls Industries Insider Transactions Over The Last Year
Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider sale was by the Executive VP & President of Mission Technologies, Edgar Green, for US$2.0m worth of shares, at about US$458 per share. While we don't usually like to see insider selling, it's more concerning if the sales take place at a lower price. It's of some comfort that this sale was conducted at a price well above the current share price, which is US$328. So it may not shed much light on insider confidence at current levels.
All up, insiders sold more shares in Huntington Ingalls Industries than they bought, over the last year. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!
See our latest analysis for Huntington Ingalls Industries
I will like Huntington Ingalls Industries 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.
Insider Ownership
Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. Insiders own 0.7% of Huntington Ingalls Industries shares, worth about US$93m. 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 Huntington Ingalls Industries Insider Transactions Indicate?
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. On the plus side, Huntington Ingalls Industries makes money, and is growing profits. While insiders do own shares, they don't own a heap, and they have been selling. So we'd only buy after careful consideration. While it's good to be aware of 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. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Huntington Ingalls Industries (1 is significant) you should be aware of.
But note: Huntington Ingalls Industries 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 of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
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.