Form 4: Albertsons CEO Susan Morris Boosts Equity Holdings

Albertsons Companies, Inc. CEO Susan Morris reported the acquisition of additional dividend equivalent units and restricted stock units, increasing her beneficial ownership.

Summary

• Susan Morris, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Albertsons Companies, Inc. (ACI), reported the acquisition of various Dividend Equivalent Units (DEUs) and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) on February 6, 2026.
• These acquisitions include 329 time-based RSUs, which represent a contractual right to receive one share of Class A common stock and will vest in full on February 28, 2026.
• An additional 626 time-based RSUs were acquired, vesting in full on February 27, 2027, contingent on continuous employment.
• A further 2,128 time-based RSUs were acquired, vesting in full on February 26, 2028, also contingent on continuous employment.
• Morris also received 864 dividend equivalent units (comprising 357, 259, and 248 units) credited on accrued performance-based RSUs, which will vest and settle with their underlying awards. These dividend equivalents are based on a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share of common stock.
• Following these transactions, Morris's beneficial ownership of derivative securities increased, with specific tranches now totaling 40,023, 76,126, 258,797, 113,072, and 103,251 units respectively.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this as a moderately positive event, reflecting routine executive compensation that aligns management's long-term interests with shareholders, without indicating any immediate operational or financial changes.

Positives

• Increased beneficial ownership for a key executive, aligning management interests with shareholders.
• The acquisition of dividend equivalent units reflects the company's ongoing dividend payments ($0.15 per share quarterly).
• The vesting schedules for the restricted stock units provide long-term incentives for the CEO to remain with the company and drive performance.

Risks

• The vesting of certain restricted stock units is contingent upon Susan Morris's continuous employment through the respective vesting dates (February 27, 2027, and February 26, 2028). If employment ceases, these units may be forfeited.

Future Outlook

The filing indicates future vesting events for Susan Morris's equity awards on February 28, 2026, February 27, 2027, and February 26, 2028, contingent on her continued employment for the latter two dates. This suggests a planned long-term incentive structure for the CEO.

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that executive compensation, particularly through equity awards like RSUs and DEUs, is a standard practice across the retail and grocery industry. These awards are designed to align executive interests with long-term shareholder value and retention. This specific filing reflects a routine compensation event rather than a strategic industry shift.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• The use of time-based restricted stock units with multi-year vesting schedules is a common executive compensation practice, comparable to structures seen at peers like Kroger (KR) or Walmart (WMT), aiming for executive retention and long-term performance alignment.
• Dividend equivalent units are also standard for equity awards, ensuring that recipients benefit from dividends declared on the underlying shares before they vest, similar to practices at other large publicly traded companies.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: Increased alignment of CEO's interests with long-term shareholder value through equity ownership and vesting incentives.
• Employees: No direct impact on general employees, but the CEO's continued tenure and incentives could indirectly influence company stability and strategic direction.

Next Steps

• Vesting of 329 time-based Restricted Stock Units on February 28, 2026.
• Vesting of 626 time-based Restricted Stock Units on February 27, 2027, subject to continuous employment.
• Vesting of 2,128 time-based Restricted Stock Units on February 26, 2028, subject to continuous employment.
• Vesting of dividend equivalent units concurrently with their underlying performance-based RSU awards.

Key Dates

Keywords

Albertsons Companies, ACI, Susan Morris, Form 4, Insider Trading, Restricted Stock Units, RSUs, Dividend Equivalent Units, DEUs, Executive Compensation, Beneficial Ownership, Corporate Governance, Grocery Retail