Form 4: Avista SVP Thackston Sells Shares for Tax, Converts Performance Awards

Avista Corp. Senior Vice President Jason R. Thackston sold 1,352 shares to cover tax obligations on vested restricted stock and converted 1,710 performance shares into common stock.

Summary

• Jason R. Thackston, Senior Vice President of Avista Corp. (AVA), executed two transactions on January 6, 2026.
• Sold 1,352 shares of Avista Corp. Common Stock at a price of $38.95 per share.
• The sale was conducted to satisfy income tax obligations arising from the vesting of restricted shares.
• The vested restricted shares included the final one-third of 2023, the second one-third of 2024, and the first one-third of 2025 grants, all vesting on January 6, 2026.
• Converted 1,710 performance shares from the 2023 Performance Shares (TSR) program into common stock, indicating that the performance measure was met.
• Following these transactions, Thackston's direct beneficial ownership of Avista Corp. Common Stock stands at 40,089 shares.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The sentiment is neutral to slightly positive. The transactions are routine for executive compensation, involving a tax-related sale and the vesting of performance shares, which implies successful achievement of performance targets.

Positives

• The conversion of 1,710 performance shares indicates that the company successfully met its performance measures (specifically Total Shareholder Return for 2023), reflecting positive operational or strategic execution.

Negatives

• A sale of 1,352 shares, even for tax purposes, reduces the direct beneficial ownership of the Senior Vice President.

Future Outlook

NA

Management Comments

• Shares were sold to pay income tax on the final one-third of 2023, the second one-third of 2024, and the first one-third of 2025 restricted shares that vested on January 6, 2026.
• Performance shares were awarded because the performance measure was met.

Industry Context

This Form 4 filing details routine executive compensation activities and does not provide broader industry context or trends.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The conversion of performance shares results in a minor increase in outstanding shares, a common occurrence with equity compensation plans. The sale for tax purposes is a routine event and does not typically signal a change in company fundamentals or executive confidence.
• Employees: No direct impact on employees is indicated by this filing.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 details routine executive compensation activities, specifically the sale of shares to cover tax liabilities on vested restricted stock and the conversion of performance shares due to met targets. These transactions do not indicate any fundamental change in the company's prospects or the executive's confidence, nor do they suggest any significant new information that would warrant a change in investment thesis. Therefore, a 'hold' recommendation is appropriate as the filing provides no new catalysts for buying or selling.

Keywords

Avista Corp, AVA, Form 4, Insider Transaction, Stock Sale, Performance Shares, Restricted Stock, Executive Compensation, Jason R. Thackston