Investors who take an interest in Worthington Steel, Inc. (NYSE:WS) should definitely note that the Independent Director, Scott Kelly, recently paid US$39.11 per share to buy US$274k worth of the stock. That certainly has us anticipating the best, especially since they thusly increased their own holding by 76%, potentially signalling some real optimism.

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Worthington Steel

Notably, that recent purchase by Scott Kelly is the biggest insider purchase of Worthington Steel shares that we've seen in the last year. That implies that an insider found the current price of US$40.23 per share to be enticing. Of course they may have changed their mind. But this suggests they are optimistic. While we always like to see insider buying, it's less meaningful if the purchases were made at much lower prices, as the opportunity they saw may have passed. Happily, the Worthington Steel insider decided to buy shares at close to current prices. Scott Kelly was the only individual insider to buy during the last year.

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!

Worthington Steel is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of under-the-radar companies with insider buying.

Insider Ownership Of Worthington Steel

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. Worthington Steel insiders own 11% of the company, currently worth about US$231m based on the recent share price. I like to see this level of insider ownership, because it increases the chances that management are thinking about the best interests of shareholders.

So What Do The Worthington Steel Insider Transactions Indicate?

The recent insider purchase is heartening. And an analysis of the transactions over the last year also gives us confidence. Once you factor in the high insider ownership, it certainly seems like insiders are positive about Worthington Steel. That's what I like to see! Of course, the future is what matters most.

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.