We wouldn't blame Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD) shareholders if they were a little worried about the fact that Josh Hirsberg, the Executive VP recently netted about US$1.1m selling shares at an average price of US$89.76. However, it's crucial to note that they remain very much invested in the stock and that sale only reduced their holding by 3.1%.

Boyd Gaming Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider sale was by the Executive Chairman, Marianne Johnson, for US$8.7m worth of shares, at about US$86.62 per share. So what is clear is that an insider saw fit to sell at around the current price of US$84.83. While insider selling is a negative, to us, it is more negative if the shares are sold 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.

In the last year Boyd Gaming insiders didn't buy any company stock. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

I will like Boyd Gaming better if I see some big insider buys.

Insider Ownership Of Boyd Gaming

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Boyd Gaming insiders own about US$1.8b worth of shares (which is 29% of the company). 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 Do The Boyd Gaming Insider Transactions Indicate?

Insiders haven't bought Boyd Gaming stock in the last three months, but there was some selling. And there weren't any purchases to give us comfort, over the last year. But it is good to see that Boyd Gaming is growing earnings. The company boasts high insider ownership, but we're a little hesitant, given the history of share sales. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Boyd Gaming.

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.