Form 4: Bloomin' Brands Exec Reports RSU Conversion, Tax Withholding

Lissette R Gonzalez, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer of Bloomin' Brands, Inc., reported the conversion of restricted stock units into common stock and subsequent tax withholding.

Summary

• Lissette R Gonzalez, EVP, Chief Commercial Officer of Bloomin' Brands, Inc. (BLMN), reported changes in her beneficial ownership.
• On March 3, 2026, 4,861 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) converted into common stock.
• These RSUs were part of an original grant on September 3, 2024, for 19,443 units, with a vesting schedule over 24 months.
• Concurrently, 1,201 shares of common stock were withheld by the issuer at a price of $6.35 per share to cover tax withholding obligations related to the RSU vesting.
• Following these transactions, Gonzalez beneficially owns 46,483 shares of common stock.
• The reported amount of beneficially owned shares (47,684 before tax withholding) reflects a correction of 369 shares from a previous Form 4 filed on March 3, 2026, due to an incorrect number of shares withheld for tax.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this as a routine and expected executive compensation event, reflecting the vesting of previously granted equity. It is slightly positive as it indicates an executive's continued stake in the company.

Positives

• The conversion of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) into common stock indicates a vesting event, which is a positive for the executive as it represents earned compensation.
• The executive's beneficial ownership of 46,483 shares aligns her interests with shareholders.

Negatives

• The disposition of 1,201 shares to cover tax withholding reduces the executive's direct shareholding, though this is a standard practice for RSU vesting.

Future Outlook

No specific future outlook or guidance is provided in this Form 4 filing, as it primarily reports a routine executive compensation transaction.

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that executive RSU vesting and subsequent tax withholding are routine compensation events in the restaurant industry, aligning executive incentives with long-term company performance. This filing reflects standard practice for executive equity compensation at Bloomin' Brands, Inc.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• This transaction is a standard executive compensation event involving the vesting of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and the withholding of shares for tax purposes.
• This practice is common across publicly traded companies, including peers in the casual dining sector such as Darden Restaurants (DRI) and Brinker International (EAT), where equity compensation forms a significant part of executive pay packages to align management interests with shareholder value creation.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The executive's continued beneficial ownership aligns her interests with shareholders.
• Employees: No direct impact on general employees is indicated by this filing.

Next Steps

• Future vesting of the remaining Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) from the September 3, 2024 grant, which vest 50% on the 12-month anniversary, 25% on the 18-month anniversary, and 25% on the 24-month anniversary of the grant date, with a final vesting in 2026.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 reports a standard executive compensation event involving the vesting of Restricted Stock Units and the subsequent withholding of shares for tax purposes. It does not provide new material 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 as the filing confirms routine executive compensation practices without altering the fundamental investment thesis for Bloomin' Brands, Inc.

Keywords

Bloomin' Brands, BLMN, Form 4, Insider Transaction, Restricted Stock Units, RSU, Executive Compensation, Stock Ownership, Lissette R Gonzalez, Officer Transaction