President and COO Of Pricesmart Sold $491K In Stock

Revealing a significant insider sell on May 1, JOHN HILDEBRANDT, President and COO at Pricesmart PSMT, as per the latest SEC filing.

What Happened: A Form 4 filing from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday showed that HILDEBRANDT sold 6,000 shares of Pricesmart. The total transaction amounted to $491,520.

As of Wednesday morning, Pricesmart shares are up by 0.96%, currently priced at $81.36.

Get to Know Pricesmart Better

Pricesmart Inc is principally engaged in operating U.S.-style membership shopping warehouse clubs that offer consumer goods at low prices. The company is headquartered in San Diego, California, United States, and operates stores in Latin America and the Caribbean, with Central America contributing over half of its net warehouse club sales. The company's revenue consists of net warehouse club sales from merchandise sales, membership income from annual membership fees, export sales, and other income, with net warehouse club sales accounting for the majority of the company's total revenue.

Pricesmart: A Financial Overview

Positive Revenue Trend: Examining Pricesmart's financials over 3 months reveals a positive narrative. The company achieved a noteworthy revenue growth rate of 13.11% as of 29 February, 2024, showcasing a substantial increase in top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company stands out with a growth rate higher than the average among peers in the Consumer Staples sector.

Interpreting Earnings Metrics:

• Gross Margin: The company issues a cost efficiency warning with a low gross margin of 17.11%, indicating potential difficulties in maintaining profitability compared to its peers.

• Earnings per Share (EPS): Pricesmart's EPS lags behind the industry average, indicating concerns and potential challenges with a current EPS of 1.31.

Debt Management: The company maintains a balanced debt approach with a debt-to-equity ratio below industry norms, standing at 0.24.

Evaluating Valuation:

• Price to Earnings (P/E) Ratio: The Price to Earnings ratio of 20.3 is lower than the industry average, indicating potential undervaluation for the stock.

• Price to Sales (P/S) Ratio: With a P/S ratio of 0.53 below industry standards, the stock shows potential undervaluation, making it an appealing investment option for those focusing on sales performance.

• EV/EBITDA Analysis (Enterprise Value to its Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation & Amortization): Indicated by a lower-than-industry-average EV/EBITDA ratio of 9.01, the company suggests a potential undervaluation, which might be advantageous for value-focused investors.

Market Capitalization: With restricted market capitalization, the company is positioned below industry averages. This reflects a smaller scale relative to peers.

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Why Insider Transactions Are Key in Investment Decisions

Considering insider transactions is valuable, but it's crucial to evaluate them in conjunction with other investment factors.

In the context of legal matters, the term "insider" refers to any officer, director, or beneficial owner holding more than ten percent of a company's equity securities, as outlined by Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This includes executives in the c-suite and significant hedge funds. Such insiders are obligated to report their transactions through a Form 4 filing, which must be completed within two business days of the transaction.

Pointing towards optimism, a company insider's new purchase signals their positive anticipation for the stock to rise.

Despite insider sells not always signaling a bearish sentiment, they can be driven by various factors.

Navigating the World of Insider Transaction Codes

Taking a closer look at transactions, investors often prioritize those unfolding in the open market, meticulously cataloged in Table I of the Form 4 filing. A P in Box 3 denotes a purchase, while S signifies a sale. Transaction code C denotes the conversion of an option, and transaction code A signifies a grant, award, or other acquisition of securities from the company.

Check Out The Full List Of Pricesmart's Insider Trades.

This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.