Some BancFirst Corporation (NASDAQ:BANF) shareholders may be a little concerned to see that the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board, David Rainbolt, recently sold a substantial US$2.1m worth of stock at a price of US$116 per share. However, it's crucial to note that they remain very much invested in the stock and that sale only reduced their holding by 0.2%.

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At BancFirst

Notably, that recent sale by David Rainbolt is the biggest insider sale of BancFirst shares that we've seen in the last year. So what is clear is that an insider saw fit to sell at around the current price of US$114. While we don't usually like to see insider selling, it's more concerning if the sales take place at a lower price. Given that the sale took place at around current prices, it makes us a little cautious but is hardly a major concern.

The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

I will like BancFirst better if I see some big insider buys.

Insider Ownership Of BancFirst

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's great to see that BancFirst insiders own 31% of the company, worth about US$1.2b. This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders.

So What Does This Data Suggest About BancFirst Insiders?

An insider sold BancFirst shares recently, but they didn't buy any. And even if we look at the last year, we didn't see any purchases. On the plus side, BancFirst 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.

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 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.