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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 before you buy or sell Caltex Australia Limited (ASX:CTX), you may well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling.
Do Insider Transactions Matter?
It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market.
We don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions. But logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. 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 Caltex Australia
The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Caltex Australia
Chairman Steven Gregg made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for AU$181k worth of shares at a price of AU$30.22 each. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being AU$24.75). It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price.
In the last twelve months insiders paid AU$477k for 17050 shares purchased. In the last twelve months Caltex Australia insiders were buying shares, but not selling. 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!
Caltex Australia is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.
Insiders at Caltex Australia Have Bought Stock Recently
Over the last quarter, Caltex Australia insiders have spent a meaningful amount on shares. Specifically, MD, CEO & Director Julian Segal bought AU$100k worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any sales whatsoever. This could be interpreted as suggesting a positive outlook.