This Insider Has Just Sold Shares In Genie Energy

Anyone interested in Genie Energy Ltd. (NYSE:GNE) should probably be aware that the Chief Financial Officer, Avi Goldin, recently divested US$179k worth of shares in the company, at an average price of US$18.91 each. That sale was 12% of their holding, so it does make us raise an eyebrow.

We've found 21 US stocks that are forecast to pay a dividend yield of over 6% next year. See the full list for free.

Genie Energy Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

In fact, the recent sale by Avi Goldin was the biggest sale of Genie Energy shares made by an insider individual in the last twelve months, according to our records. So what is clear is that an insider saw fit to sell at around the current price of US$18.40. While we don't usually like to see insider selling, it's more concerning if the sales take place 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.

Avi Goldin divested 21.46k shares over the last 12 months at an average price of US$16.51. 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!

View our latest analysis for Genie Energy

For those who like to find hidden gems this free list of small cap companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Does Genie Energy Boast High 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. It's great to see that Genie Energy insiders own 22% of the company, worth about US$110m. 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 Genie Energy Tell Us?

An insider hasn't bought Genie Energy stock in the last three months, but there was some selling. Looking to the last twelve months, our data doesn't show any insider buying. On the plus side, Genie Energy makes money, and is growing profits. The company boasts high insider ownership, but we're a little hesitant, given the history of share sales. 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. To that end, you should learn about the 4 warning signs we've spotted with Genie Energy (including 2 which make us uncomfortable).

But note: Genie Energy 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.