Form 4: Director Michael Bird Receives Carter Bankshares Stock Award

Carter Bankshares director Michael R. Bird was granted 1,802 shares of common stock as a restricted stock award, vesting in one year.

Summary

• Michael R. Bird, a Director of Carter Bankshares, Inc. (CARE), was granted 1,802 shares of common stock.
• The transaction occurred on January 2, 2026, and the shares were acquired at a price of $0, indicating a restricted stock award.
• This award is subject to a one-year vesting period.
• Following this transaction, Michael R. Bird directly beneficially owns a total of 16,576 shares of Carter Bankshares, Inc. common stock.
• A Power of Attorney was executed on December 18, 2024, by Michael R. Bird, appointing Abigail E. McGuire and others as attorneys-in-fact for SEC Section 16 filings.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The filing indicates a routine equity compensation award to a director, which is generally viewed positively as it aligns management/director interests with shareholders. It's not a significant market-moving event but reflects standard corporate governance practices.

Positives

• The restricted stock award aligns the director's long-term interests with those of the shareholders, promoting sustained company performance.
• Equity compensation is a standard practice for retaining and incentivizing key personnel and directors.

Future Outlook

The 1,802 restricted stock units granted to Director Michael R. Bird are scheduled to vest in one year from the grant date, indicating a future increase in his vested equity ownership.

Industry Context

Routine equity compensation for directors, such as restricted stock awards, is a common practice across the banking industry and publicly traded companies to align the interests of directors with those of shareholders and to incentivize long-term commitment and performance.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Equity compensation, particularly restricted stock awards, is a standard practice for non-employee directors in publicly traded companies, including regional banks like Carter Bankshares, Inc.
• This method is widely used to incentivize long-term performance, retain talent, and align director interests with shareholder value creation, consistent with corporate governance benchmarks in the financial sector.

Corporate Governance

Related Party Transactions

• The restricted stock award is a transaction between Carter Bankshares, Inc. and its director, Michael R. Bird, which is a related party transaction, consistent with standard director compensation practices.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The award further aligns the director's financial interests with the long-term performance of the company, potentially benefiting shareholders through improved governance and strategic decisions.

Next Steps

• The 1,802 restricted stock units will vest in one year from the grant date of January 2, 2026.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 filing details a routine restricted stock award to a director, which is a standard practice for executive compensation and aligns the director's interests with shareholders. It does not provide new information that would fundamentally alter the investment thesis for Carter Bankshares, Inc. Therefore, a 'hold' recommendation is appropriate, assuming the existing investment thesis remains unchanged by other factors.

Keywords

Carter Bankshares, CARE, Michael R. Bird, Director, Restricted Stock Award, Insider Transaction, Equity Compensation, Stock Grant, Form 4