We'd be surprised if Acacia Research Corporation (NASDAQ:ACTG) shareholders haven't noticed that the Independent Director, Isaac Kohlberg, recently sold US$150k worth of stock at US$4.67 per share. The eyebrow raising move amounted to a reduction of 29% in their holding.

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Acacia Research

In fact, the recent sale by Isaac Kohlberg was the biggest sale of Acacia Research shares made by an insider individual in the last twelve months, according to our records. So we know that an insider sold shares at around the present share price of US$4.59. 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.

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!

If you like to buy stocks that insiders are buying, rather than selling, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: Most of them are flying under the radar).

Does Acacia Research Boast High Insider Ownership?

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. From our data, it seems that Acacia Research insiders own 1.7% of the company, worth about US$7.6m. Whilst better than nothing, we're not overly impressed by these holdings.

So What Do The Acacia Research Insider Transactions Indicate?

An insider sold Acacia Research shares recently, but they didn't buy any. And even if we look at the last year, we didn't see any purchases. When you consider that most companies have higher levels of insider ownership, we're a little wary. We'd certainly practice some caution before buying! In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Acacia Research.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity 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.

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.