Viewing insider transactions for American National Bankshares Inc.'s (NASDAQ:AMNB ) over the last year, we see that insiders were net buyers. This means that a larger number of shares were purchased by insiders in relation to shares sold.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.

View our latest analysis for American National Bankshares

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At American National Bankshares

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when President Jeffrey Haley bought US$94k worth of shares at a price of US$31.68 per share. That implies that an insider found the current price of US$32.01 per share to be enticing. That means they have been optimistic about the company in the past, though they may have changed their mind. We do always like to see insider buying, but it is worth noting if those purchases were made at well below today's share price, as the discount to value may have narrowed with the rising price. The good news for American National Bankshares share holders is that an insider was buying at near the current price. Jeffrey Haley was the only individual insider to buy during 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!

American National Bankshares is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Insiders At American National Bankshares Have Bought Stock Recently

There has been significantly more insider buying, than selling, at American National Bankshares, over the last three months. In total, President Jeffrey Haley bought US$94k worth of shares in that time. On the other hand, insiders netted US$16k by selling. Insiders have spent more buying shares than they have selling, so on balance we think they are are probably optimistic.

Insider Ownership

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. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Insiders own 4.3% of American National Bankshares shares, worth about US$15m. 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 American National Bankshares Insiders?

It is good to see the recent insider purchase. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. Insiders likely see value in American National Bankshares shares, given these transactions (along with notable insider ownership of the company). Of course, the future is what matters most. So if you are interested in American National Bankshares, you should check out this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

Of course American National Bankshares may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies.

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, but not derivative transactions.

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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.

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