Viant Technology Inc.’s (NASDAQ:DSP) stock rose 13% last week, but insiders who sold US$131k worth of stock over the last year are probably in a more advantageous position. Selling at an average price of US$6.08, which is higher than the current price, may have been the wisest decision for these insiders as their investment would have been worth less now than when they sold.

While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.

View our latest analysis for Viant Technology

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Viant Technology

The Chief Financial Officer, Lawrence Madden, made the biggest insider sale in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$131k worth of shares at a price of US$6.08 each. While insider selling is a negative, to us, it is more negative if the shares are sold at a lower price. The silver lining is that this sell-down took place above the latest price (US$3.78). So it may not tell us anything about how insiders feel about the current share price. Lawrence Madden was the only individual insider to sell over 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!

I will like Viant Technology better if I see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Does Viant Technology Boast High 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. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Our information indicates that Viant Technology insiders own about US$815k worth of shares. This level of insider ownership is notably low, and not very encouraging.

So What Does This Data Suggest About Viant Technology Insiders?

It doesn’t really mean much that no insider has traded Viant Technology shares in the last quarter. Our analysis of Viant Technology insider transactions leaves us unenthusiastic. We also note that, as far as we can see, insider ownership is fairly low, compared to other companies. While we like knowing what’s going on with the insider’s ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. While conducting our analysis, we found that Viant Technology has 1 warning sign and it would be unwise to ignore it.

Of course Viant Technology 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.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

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.