Form 4: EVP Zandpour Buys ASB Stock via ESPP

Associated Banc-Corp Executive Vice President Steven S. Zandpour acquired 86.9912 shares of common stock through an employee stock purchase plan.

Summary

• Steven S. Zandpour, Executive Vice President (EVP) of Associated Banc-Corp (ASB), acquired 86.9912 shares of the company's common stock.
• The transaction occurred on January 15, 2026, at a price of $26.871 per share.
• The shares were purchased through the Issuer's Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
• Following this transaction, Steven S. Zandpour directly beneficially owns 14,569.3211 shares of Associated Banc-Corp common stock.
• The transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction, or written plan intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c).

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The sentiment is moderately positive due to an executive's purchase of company stock, which generally indicates confidence. However, the transaction's small size and its nature as an employee stock purchase plan acquisition temper the overall impact, making it less significant than a large open-market purchase.

Positives

• An executive's purchase of company stock, even through an employee plan, can signal confidence in the company's future prospects.
• The transaction was conducted under a Rule 10b5-1 plan, indicating a pre-arranged and systematic approach to stock acquisition.

Future Outlook

This filing does not contain any forward-looking statements or guidance regarding the company's future performance or outlook.

Industry Context

Insider purchases, even small ones through employee plans, are generally viewed as a positive signal of management's belief in the company's value, aligning executive interests with those of shareholders. This is a routine disclosure for publicly traded companies.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders may view this as a positive signal, as an executive's investment in company stock aligns their interests with those of other shareholders.

Key Dates

Recommendation

The filing reports a routine, pre-scheduled purchase of a small number of shares by an executive through an employee stock purchase plan. While insider buying can signal confidence, this particular transaction is not significant enough to warrant a change in investment recommendation based solely on this filing. Investors should consider broader financial performance and market conditions.

Keywords

Associated Banc-Corp, ASB, Steven S. Zandpour, Insider Trading, Form 4, Stock Purchase, ESPP, Executive Vice President, Common Stock