Anyone interested in Bank OZK (NASDAQ:OZK) should probably be aware that the Chief Operating Officer, Cynthia Wolfe, recently divested US$397k worth of shares in the company, at an average price of US$45.84 each. That sale was 19% of their holding, so it does make us raise an eyebrow.

Bank OZK Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

In the last twelve months, the biggest single sale by an insider was when the Independent Director, Ross Whipple, sold US$5.2m worth of shares at a price of US$51.50 per share. While insider selling is a negative, to us, it is more negative if the shares are sold at a lower price. The good news is that this large sale was at well above current price of US$46.25. So it may not tell us anything about how insiders feel about the current share price.

Over the last year we saw more insider selling of Bank OZK shares, than buying. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

I will like Bank OZK better if I see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Does Bank OZK Boast High Insider Ownership?

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. Bank OZK insiders own 6.5% of the company, currently worth about US$337m based on the recent share price. Most shareholders would be happy to see this sort of insider ownership, since it suggests that management incentives are well aligned with other shareholders.

What Might The Insider Transactions At Bank OZK Tell Us?

Insiders sold Bank OZK shares recently, but they didn't buy any. Despite some insider buying, the longer term picture doesn't make us feel much more positive. But it is good to see that Bank OZK is growing earnings. It is good to see high insider ownership, but the insider selling leaves us cautious. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Bank OZK. For example - Bank OZK has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of.

But note: Bank OZK 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.