Key Insights

• The considerable ownership by private companies in Qingdao Port International indicates that they collectively have a greater say in management and business strategy
• 56% of the company is held by a single shareholder (SPG Qingdao Port Group Company Limited.)
• Past performance of a company along with ownership data serve to give a strong idea about prospects for a business

A look at the shareholders of Qingdao Port International Co., Ltd. (HKG:6198) can tell us which group is most powerful. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are private companies with 60% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

Public companies, on the other hand, account for 19% of the company's stockholders.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Qingdao Port International.

See our latest analysis for Qingdao Port International

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Qingdao Port International?

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Qingdao Port International. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Qingdao Port International, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

Qingdao Port International is not owned by hedge funds. SPG Qingdao Port Group Company Limited. is currently the largest shareholder, with 56% of shares outstanding. With such a huge stake in the ownership, we infer that they have significant control of the future of the company. COSCO SHIPPING Holdings Co., Ltd. is the second largest shareholder owning 19% of common stock, and COSCO SHIPPING Ports Development Co., Limited holds about 3.2% of the company stock.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There is a little analyst coverage of the stock, but not much. So there is room for it to gain more coverage.

Insider Ownership Of Qingdao Port International

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

Our data cannot confirm that board members are holding shares personally. We do not see this low level of ownership often, and it is possible our data is imperfect. But shareholders can click here to check if insiders have been selling stock.

General Public Ownership

With a 12% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Qingdao Port International. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders.

Private Company Ownership

It seems that Private Companies own 60%, of the Qingdao Port International stock. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company.

Public Company Ownership

Public companies currently own 19% of Qingdao Port International stock. We can't be certain but it is quite possible this is a strategic stake. The businesses may be similar, or work together.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Take risks for example - Qingdao Port International has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of.

Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

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.