It is not uncommon to see companies perform well in the years after insiders buy shares. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of examples of share prices declining precipitously after insiders have sold shares. So we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in Tabcorp Holdings Limited (ASX:TAH).

What Is Insider Selling?

Most investors know that it is quite permissible for company leaders, such as directors of the board, to buy and sell stock in the company. However, rules govern insider transactions, and certain disclosures are required.

We would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. But logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. For example, a Harvard University study found that 'insider purchases earn abnormal returns of more than 6% per year.

Check out our latest analysis for Tabcorp Holdings

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Tabcorp Holdings

Notably, that recent purchase by Chairman of the Board Paula Dwyer was not the only time they bought Tabcorp Holdings shares this year. Earlier in the year, they paid AU$4.84 per share in a AU$121k purchase. That means that even when the share price was higher than AU$4.83 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price.

While Tabcorp Holdings insiders bought shares last year, they didn't sell. You can see the insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Tabcorp Holdings Insiders Bought Stock Recently

It's good to see that Tabcorp Holdings insiders have made notable investments in the company's shares. Overall, three insiders shelled out AU$338k for shares in the company -- and none sold. That shows some optimism about the company's future.

Insider Ownership of Tabcorp Holdings

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. From our data, it seems that Tabcorp Holdings insiders own 0.1% of the company, worth about AU$12m. Overall, this level of ownership isn't that impressive, but it's certainly better than nothing!