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Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTEN) Insiders Increased Their Holdings

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It is not uncommon to see companies perform well in the years after insiders buy shares. 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 we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTEN).

What Is Insider Selling?

It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, rules govern insider transactions, and certain disclosures are required.

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We would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. 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'.

Check out our latest analysis for Patterson-UTI Energy

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Patterson-UTI Energy

Lead Director Curtis Huff made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$203k worth of shares at a price of US$10.14 each. That implies that an insider found the current price of US$11.46 per share to be enticing. That means they have been optimistic about the company in the past, though they may have changed their mind. We do always like to see insider buying, but it is worth noting if those purchases were made at well below today's share price, as the discount to value may have narrowed with the rising price. Happily, the Patterson-UTI Energy insider decided to buy shares at close to current prices. The only individual insider to buy over the last year was Curtis Huff.

You can see the insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

NasdaqGS:PTEN Recent Insider Trading, July 8th 2019
NasdaqGS:PTEN Recent Insider Trading, July 8th 2019

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Does Patterson-UTI 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. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It appears that Patterson-UTI Energy insiders own 2.2% of the company, worth about US$53m. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders.

So What Does This Data Suggest About Patterson-UTI Energy Insiders?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Patterson-UTI Energy shares in the last quarter. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. Insiders own shares in Patterson-UTI Energy and we see no evidence to suggest they are worried about the future. Therefore, you should should definitely take a look at this FREE report showing analyst forecasts for Patterson-UTI Energy.

But note: Patterson-UTI 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 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.