Some Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:ZBRA) shareholders may be a little concerned to see that insider Michael Cho recently sold a substantial US$1.3m worth of stock at a price of US$375 per share. That sale reduced their total holding by 44% which is hardly insignificant, but far from the worst we've seen.

Zebra Technologies Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

In fact, the recent sale by Michael Cho was the biggest sale of Zebra Technologies shares made by an insider individual in the last twelve months, according to our records. That means that an insider was selling shares at below the current price (US$378). 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. Please do note, however, that sellers may have a variety of reasons for selling, so we don't know for sure what they think of the stock price. This single sale was just 44% of Michael Cho's stake.

In total, Zebra Technologies insiders sold more 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!

I will like Zebra Technologies better if I see some big insider buys.

Insider Ownership Of Zebra Technologies

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Zebra Technologies insiders own about US$156m worth of shares (which is 0.9% of the company). 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 Do The Zebra Technologies Insider Transactions Indicate?

Insiders haven't bought Zebra Technologies stock in the last three months, but there was some selling. And our longer term analysis of insider transactions didn't bring confidence, either. But it is good to see that Zebra Technologies is growing earnings. It is good to see high insider ownership, but the insider selling leaves us cautious. 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. In terms of investment risks, we've identified 2 warning signs with Zebra Technologies and understanding these should be part of your investment process.

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.