Did National Retail Properties, Inc. (NYSE:NNN) Insiders Sell Shares?

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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. The flip side of that is that there are more than a few examples of insiders dumping stock prior to a period of weak performance. So we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in National Retail Properties, Inc. (NYSE:NNN).

Do Insider Transactions Matter?

It's quite normal to see company insiders, such as board members, trading in company stock, from time to time. However, rules govern insider transactions, and certain disclosures are required.

We don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions. But it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. For example, a Harvard University study found that 'insider purchases earn abnormal returns of more than 6% per year.'

Check out our latest analysis for National Retail Properties

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At National Retail Properties

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider sale was by the Executive VP & Chief Investment Officer, Paul Bayer, for US$2.0m worth of shares, at about US$52.44 per share. That means that an insider was selling shares at slightly below the current price (US$54.12). We generally consider it a negative if insiders have been selling on market, especially if they did so below the current price, because it implies that they considered a lower price to be reasonable. While insider selling is not a positive sign, we can't be sure if it does mean insiders think the shares are fully valued, so it's only a weak sign. This single sale was just 28.5% of Paul Bayer's stake.

Over the last year, we note insiders sold 211k shares worth US$11m. National Retail Properties insiders didn't buy any shares over the last year. 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!

NYSE:NNN Recent Insider Trading, July 9th 2019
NYSE:NNN Recent Insider Trading, July 9th 2019

If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Insiders at National Retail Properties Have Sold Stock Recently

The last quarter saw substantial insider selling of National Retail Properties shares. Specifically, insiders ditched US$2.1m worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any purchases whatsoever. Overall this makes us a bit cautious, but it's not the be all and end all.

Insider Ownership

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Insiders own 0.6% of National Retail Properties shares, worth about US$55m. 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 National Retail Properties Insider Transactions Indicate?

Insiders haven't bought National Retail Properties stock in the last three months, but there was some selling. And there weren't any purchases to give us comfort, over the last year. While insiders do own shares, they don't own a heap, and they have been selling. We'd think twice before buying! Therefore, you should should definitely take a look at this FREE report showing analyst forecasts for National Retail Properties.

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 aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.

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