Anyone interested in Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE:AYI) should probably be aware that the Senior VP & General Counsel, Barry Goldman, recently divested US$429k worth of shares in the company, at an average price of US$226 each. That sale was 32% of their holding, so it does make us raise an eyebrow.

View our latest analysis for Acuity Brands

Acuity Brands Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

In fact, the recent sale by Barry Goldman was the biggest sale of Acuity Brands shares made by an insider individual in the last twelve months, according to our records. So we know that an insider sold shares at around the present share price of US$225. While we don't usually like to see insider selling, it's more concerning if the sales take place at a lower price. Given that the sale took place at around current prices, it makes us a little cautious but is hardly a major concern.

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!

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 Of Acuity Brands

I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. Acuity Brands insiders own about US$16m worth of shares. That equates to 0.2% of the company. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders.

So What Does This Data Suggest About Acuity Brands Insiders?

An insider sold Acuity Brands shares recently, but they didn't buy any. Despite some insider buying, the longer term picture doesn't make us feel much more positive. On the plus side, Acuity Brands makes money, and is growing profits. While insiders do own shares, they don't own a heap, and they have been selling. So we'd only buy after careful consideration. Therefore, you should definitely take a look at this FREE report showing analyst forecasts for Acuity Brands.

But note: Acuity Brands may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE 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.