Form 4: Director Howard Woolley Boosts Apple Hospitality REIT Stake

Apple Hospitality REIT Director Howard E. Woolley acquired additional common shares and deferred stock units as part of his quarterly retainer fee.

Summary

• Director Howard E. Woolley acquired 2,418 common shares of Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. (APLE) on November 28, 2025, at a price of $11.89 per share.
• This acquisition was part of the quarterly payment for his retainer fee for serving on the Board of Directors.
• Following this transaction, Woolley directly beneficially owns 33,347.727 common shares.
• Additionally, Woolley acquired 434 Deferred Stock Units (DSUs) on November 28, 2025, also valued at $11.89 per unit.
• These DSUs were granted pursuant to dividend equivalent rights on previously awarded DSUs.
• Each DSU is economically equivalent to one share of Common Stock and is payable under the Deferral Plan upon an elected date/event or specific triggers like death, disability, or change in control.
• After this transaction, Woolley directly beneficially owns 21,940 DSUs.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: The sentiment is moderately positive. While a routine compensation transaction, the acquisition of shares and DSUs by a director indicates continued alignment of interests and a vote of confidence in the company's equity, even if not a discretionary open-market purchase.

Positives

• A director increasing their stake in the company, even if through compensation, can be seen as a positive signal of confidence in the company's future performance.
• The acquisition of shares and DSUs aligns the director's interests with those of shareholders.

Future Outlook

This filing does not contain specific forward-looking statements or guidance regarding the company's future performance, as it is a report of an insider transaction.

Management Comments

• Quarterly payment of equity component of quarterly retainer fee for serving on the Board of Directors of Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc.
• Per share value is the closing price for the Company's common shares on the New York Stock Exchange on November 28, 2025.
• Each Deferred Stock Unit is economically equivalent to one share of Common Stock.
• Represents Deferred Stock Units granted pursuant to dividend equivalent rights on previously awarded Deferred Stock Units.
• The Deferred Stock Units credited under the Amended and Restated Non-Employee Director Deferral Program (the "Deferral Plan"), under the Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. 2024 Omnibus Incentive Plan, are generally payable in the form elected or provided under the Deferral Plan on the earlier of (i) the date or event elected by the reporting person, or (ii) upon death, disability or change in control as defined under the Deferral Plan.

Industry Context

This Form 4 filing reports a routine insider transaction related to director compensation. It does not provide broader industry trends or competitive analysis. However, director equity compensation is a common practice in the REIT sector, aligning management interests with shareholder value.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Director compensation packages often include equity components (like common shares or deferred stock units) in the REIT industry, similar to other publicly traded companies, to align director incentives with long-term shareholder value.
• The structure of Deferred Stock Units, which convert to common shares upon specific events (e.g., retirement, death, change of control), is a standard practice for non-employee director compensation across various industries, including real estate investment trusts.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The acquisition of additional equity by a director can be viewed positively, signaling confidence in the company's future and aligning director interests with shareholder returns.
• Employees: No direct impact on employees is indicated by this filing.

Next Steps

• No specific future actions or milestones are mentioned in this Form 4 filing, as it reports a past transaction.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 filing details a routine compensation-related acquisition of shares and deferred stock units by a director. While it shows continued alignment of interests, it does not provide new fundamental information about the company's operational performance, financial health, or strategic direction that would warrant a change in investment recommendation. Therefore, a 'hold' recommendation is appropriate, maintaining current positions based on existing fundamental analysis rather than this specific insider transaction.

Keywords

Apple Hospitality REIT, APLE, Howard E. Woolley, Director, Insider Transaction, Form 4, Stock Acquisition, Deferred Stock Units, REIT, Equity Compensation