Those following along with Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSAT) will no doubt be intrigued by the recent purchase of shares by Richard Baldridge, Director of the company, who spent a stonking US$820k on stock at an average price of US$14.91. Not only is that a big swing, but it increased their holding size by 21%, which is definitely great to see.

View our latest analysis for Viasat

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Viasat

Notably, that recent purchase by Richard Baldridge is the biggest insider purchase of Viasat shares that we've seen in the last year. That means that even when the share price was higher than US$12.79 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. We always take careful note of the price insiders pay when purchasing shares. It is encouraging to see an insider paid above the current price for shares, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels. Richard Baldridge was the only individual insider to buy during the last year.

You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

Viasat is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of under-the-radar companies with insider buying.

Does Viasat 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. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. It appears that Viasat insiders own 3.1% of the company, worth about US$51m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

What Might The Insider Transactions At Viasat Tell Us?

It is good to see the recent insider purchase. And an analysis of the transactions over the last year also gives us confidence. However, we note that the company didn't make a profit over the last twelve months, which makes us cautious. Insiders likely see value in Viasat shares, given these transactions (along with notable insider ownership of the company). While it's good to be aware of 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. To that end, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Viasat (including 1 which is concerning).

But note: Viasat 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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