We wouldn't blame Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CWST) shareholders if they were a little worried about the fact that John Casella, the Chairman recently netted about US$1.8m selling shares at an average price of US$90.27. That sale reduced their total holding by 49% which is hardly insignificant, but far from the worst we've seen.

Casella Waste Systems Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Notably, that recent sale by Chairman John Casella was not the only time they sold Casella Waste Systems shares this year. They previously made an even bigger sale of -US$2.9m worth of shares at a price of US$81.41 per share. That means that an insider was selling shares at slightly below the current price (US$91.11). 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. While insider selling is not a positive sign, we can't be sure if it does mean insiders think the shares are fully valued, so it's only a weak sign. It is worth noting that this sale was 98% of John Casella's holding.

Insiders in Casella Waste Systems didn't buy any shares in 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!

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

Insider Ownership

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. It's great to see that Casella Waste Systems insiders own 2.6% of the company, worth about US$139m. 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 Does This Data Suggest About Casella Waste Systems Insiders?

Insiders haven't bought Casella Waste Systems 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. While insiders do own a lot of shares in the company (which is good), our analysis of their transactions doesn't make us feel confident about the company. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Casella Waste Systems. For example, Casella Waste Systems has 5 warning signs (and 1 which shouldn't be ignored) we think you should know about.

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.

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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.