Are Macquarie Group Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Like that fresh smell in the air when the rains are coming, insider buying fills me with optimistic anticipation. This view is based on the possibility that stock purchases signal bullishness on behalf of the buyer. However, insiders are sometimes wrong, and we don't know the exact thinking behind their acquisitions.

We do note that, in the last year, insiders sold -AU$99k worth of shares. But that's far less than the AU$7.4m insiders spend purchasing stock. This makes me even more interested in Macquarie Group because it suggests that those who understand the company best, are optimistic. We also note that it was the CEO, MD & Executive Voting Director, Shemara Wikramanayake, who made the biggest single acquisition, paying AU$7.1m for shares at about AU$151 each.