Form 4: Director Larry Barden Acquires Darling Ingredients DSUs

Darling Ingredients Director Larry Barden acquired 2,657 Deferred Stock Units, vesting December 31, 2026, as part of his compensation.

Summary

• Director Larry Barden of Darling Ingredients Inc. (DAR) acquired 2,657 Deferred Stock Units (DSUs).
• The transaction occurred on January 2, 2026, with a price of $37.64 per underlying share.
• These DSUs were granted under the 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, representing a portion of his annual cash compensation.
• Following this transaction, Barden beneficially owns 32,197 shares directly.
• The DSUs are scheduled to vest in full on December 31, 2026, subject to continued service as a director.
• A Power of Attorney was granted by Larry A. Barden on November 5, 2025, authorizing specific individuals to file SEC forms on his behalf.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: The filing indicates a routine compensation event for a director, where equity is granted, aligning interests. This is generally a neutral to slightly positive signal as it shows continued commitment and compensation structure.

Positives

• Director Barden's election to receive compensation in DSUs aligns his interests with shareholders, demonstrating confidence in the company's future performance.

Risks

• The DSUs are subject to forfeiture if the reporting person ceases to serve as a director prior to the full vesting date of December 31, 2026, with only a prorated portion vesting based on service time.

Future Outlook

The acquired Deferred Stock Units are scheduled to vest in full on December 31, 2026, provided the reporting person continues to serve as a director. A prorated portion will vest if service ceases earlier, with unvested units forfeited.

Industry Context

This filing represents a routine insider transaction, where a director receives equity compensation. Such transactions are common across industries as a means to align management and director incentives with shareholder interests.

Corporate Governance

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: Director's equity compensation aligns his interests with shareholders, potentially fostering long-term value creation.

Next Steps

• Continued service of Larry Barden as a director of Darling Ingredients Inc. until December 31, 2026, for full vesting of the DSUs.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 filing details a routine insider transaction where a director received Deferred Stock Units as part of compensation. While it indicates alignment of interests, it does not present new material information that would significantly alter the investment thesis for Darling Ingredients Inc. The transaction is expected and does not warrant a change in investment recommendation based solely on this filing.

Keywords

Darling Ingredients, DAR, Larry Barden, Form 4, Insider Trading, Deferred Stock Units, DSU, Director Compensation, Equity Compensation, SEC Filing