Anyone interested in The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:PNC) should probably be aware that the Executive VP & Head of Technology, Deborah Guild, recently divested US$303k worth of shares in the company, at an average price of US$252 each. On the bright side, that sale was only 3.2% of their holding, so we doubt it's very meaningful, on its own.

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At PNC Financial Services Group

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider sale was by the Chairman & CEO, William Demchak, for US$12m worth of shares, at about US$231 per share. That means that an insider was selling shares at slightly below the current price (US$251). As a general rule we consider it to be discouraging when insiders are selling below the current price, because it suggests they were happy with a lower valuation. However, while insider selling is sometimes discouraging, it's only a weak signal. This single sale was just 8.2% of William Demchak's stake.

All up, insiders sold more shares in PNC Financial Services Group than they bought, over the last year. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and 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!

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Insider Ownership Of PNC Financial Services Group

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. PNC Financial Services Group insiders own 0.4% of the company, currently worth about US$361m 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.

So What Does This Data Suggest About PNC Financial Services Group Insiders?

Insiders sold stock recently, but they haven't been buying. Zooming out, the longer term picture doesn't give us much comfort. But it is good to see that PNC Financial Services Group is growing earnings. The company boasts high insider ownership, but we're a little hesitant, given the history of share sales. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. In terms of investment risks, we've identified 1 warning sign with PNC Financial Services Group and understanding this should be part of your investment process.

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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.

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.