Anyone interested in Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEBK) should probably be aware that the Executive VP, Kimberly Leaks, recently divested US$251k worth of shares in the company, at an average price of US$28.91 each. Equally important, that sale actually reduced their holding by a full 89% which hardly makes us feel bullish about the stock.

Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Notably, that recent sale by Kimberly Leaks is the biggest insider sale of Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina shares that we've seen in the last year. So what is clear is that an insider saw fit to sell at around the current price of US$28.69. While we don't usually like to see insider selling, it's more concerning if the sales take place at a lower price. In this case, the big sale took place at around the current price, so it's not too bad (but it's still not a positive).

Insiders in Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina didn't buy any shares in the last year. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

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Insider Ownership Of Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. It appears that Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina insiders own 13% of the company, worth about US$20m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

So What Does This Data Suggest About Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina Insiders?

Insiders sold stock recently, but they haven't been buying. Looking to the last twelve months, our data doesn't show any insider buying. Insider ownership isn't particularly high, so this analysis makes us cautious about the company. We're in no rush to buy! In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina. In terms of investment risks, we've identified 2 warning signs with Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina and understanding these should be part of your investment process.

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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.