Which companies' directors have been banking profits in today’s high-flying market?
The FTSE 100 (UKX) index recently broke through the 6,000 mark for the first time since 2011. Friday's close of 6,122 represents a good gain from the 5,600 level seen in mid-November, and is 16% above last year's summer low of 5,260.
The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of the index currently stands at 12 and the dividend yield at 3.6%. Back in June, the P/E was just 9.4 and the yield 4%. So, the Footsie is today rated significantly higher than it was six or seven months ago.
I'm going to tell you about some of the directors who have taken advantage of this high-flying market to bank profits by selling shares in their own companies.
Diageo
Paul Walsh, CEO of drinks giant Diageo (LSE: DGE) (NYSE: DEO.US), is one of the longest-serving FTSE 100 chief executives. He took up his post in 2000, having previously been the group's chief operating officer.
Walsh has disposed of a net 73,051 Diageo shares since the start of November, mainly in two big sales: 50,000 shares at 1,801p and 20,000 at 1,850p, bagging him over £1.25 million. Walsh's best sell price was at 19.4 times Diageo's earnings; this time last year, the P/E ratio was 16.7.
Walsh's share sales may not have been quite at Diageo's recent high, but the price has drifted down of late and the shares currently trade at 1,789p. Nevertheless, despite the disposal, the chief executive retains a substantial holding of over 700,000 shares.
Any further sales by Walsh could fuel rumours -- which have been circulating for a while -- that he intends to step down from the drinks group. One rumour has it he will take up the chairman's role at Unilever, where he's already a non-executive director.
TUI Travel
Tour operator TUI Travel (LSE: TT) has fared relatively well in the past few recessionary years compared with many of its rivals. The shares soared last year with improved trading, and the travel group was promoted from the mid-cap index to the FTSE 100 in December.
On 4 December, the day after TUI announced its annual results, all the executive directors made big share sales at just over 277p: Peter Long (CEO) sold 748,729 shares, Johan Lundgren (deputy CEO) sold 350,000, and William Waggott (chief financial officer) sold 120,000.
These were substantial sales -- the chief executive alone netted over £2m -- even though, a couple of days later, TUI announced chunky awards for the executives under an annual bonus scheme, which bumped their interest in the company's shares back up again.
TUI's shares have continued to rise and are currently trading at 283p. That gives a P/E of 11 and a dividend yield of just over 4%, both of which are better 'value' than the market average.
Investec
International banking and financial services group Investec (LSE: INVP) is a £2.7bn FTSE 250 firm. Like the big blue-chip banks, Investec's shares have been on a tear in recent months.
On 18 December, chief executive Stephen Koseff sold 250,000 shares at around 408p, pocketing over £1 million. He continues to hold more than 4.5 million shares, though, which is perhaps just as well, as the price has continued to soar.
Investec's shares are currently changing hands at 448p. Analysts' earnings estimates for the year to March 2013 give a P/E of around 12, falling to less than 10 next year, as a result of forecast double-digit earnings growth. The forecast dividend yield rises from 3.8% to 4.6% on the same timescale.
Cairn Energy
Cash-rich oil explorer Cairn Energy (LSE: CNE), a £1.7 billion mid-cap firm, has only joined in the Footsie rally since the start of January. The shares are currently trading at 283p, making hefty sales connected with Cairn's founder and now chairman, Sir Bill Gammell, look rather ill-timed.
The sales on 12 December were made at 263p, close to the shares' six-month low. Lady Janice Gammell, the chairman's wife sold 551,909 shares for £1.5 million, and two trusts in which Sir Bill has a beneficial interest sold £260,000 worth of shares.
The sales more than halved the Gammell family's stake in the company that's hoping to hit the same kind of jackpot with its exploration in Greenland that it enjoyed in India a few years ago.
Making a million
The directors of FTSE 100 companies can pocket £1 million at a stroke with a sale of shares, but you may be surprised if I tell you that building your own million-pound investment pot is more realistic than you may think.
The Motley Fool's free guide "10 Steps To Making A Million In The Market" can help you on your way to that magic million. This guide is available for a limited time only, so don't miss the chance to get your copy. It can be in your inbox in seconds: simply click here.
> G A Chester does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this article.
