Form 4: EQH CEO Pearson Reports Significant Equity Vesting

Equitable Holdings CEO Mark Pearson reported the vesting of performance shares and related tax withholdings, increasing his direct beneficial ownership.

Summary

• Mark Pearson, President and CEO and Director of Equitable Holdings, Inc. (EQH), reported changes in his beneficial ownership of common stock.
• On March 2, 2026, Pearson acquired 261,176.8978 shares of common stock at a price of $0, reflecting the vesting of Performance Shares.
• These Performance Shares were granted under the company's 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan and were earned upon the attainment of specific performance objectives for the period from January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2025.
• Concurrently, 67,679 shares of common stock were disposed of at $40.22 to cover taxes upon the vesting of previous Restricted Stock Unit grants.
• An additional 144,430 shares of common stock were disposed of at $40.22 to cover taxes upon the vesting of the newly reported Performance Shares.
• Following these transactions, Pearson's direct beneficial ownership of common stock, including Restricted Stock Units, stands at 812,522.9078 shares.

Sentiment

Score: 8

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this filing positively, as the vesting of performance shares signifies the successful achievement of multi-year performance objectives, reflecting strong management execution and company performance.

Positives

• The vesting of 261,176.8978 Performance Shares indicates that Equitable Holdings successfully met specific performance objectives over the three-year period from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2025.
• The increase in the CEO's direct beneficial ownership (after accounting for tax withholdings) aligns management's interests with those of shareholders.

Negatives

• A total of 212,109 shares were withheld to cover taxes related to the vesting of both previous Restricted Stock Units and the current Performance Shares, which is a standard practice but reduces the immediate share count.

Future Outlook

The filing does not contain explicit forward-looking statements or guidance, as it primarily reports past equity transactions and the achievement of prior performance objectives.

Management Comments

• The Performance Shares were earned upon the attainment of certain performance objectives for the period January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2025.

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that the vesting of performance-based equity awards for a CEO is a common practice in the financial services industry, aligning executive incentives with long-term company performance. The successful attainment of multi-year performance objectives, as indicated by this vesting, suggests strong operational execution within a competitive landscape.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• The structure of performance share grants tied to multi-year objectives is a standard compensation practice among large financial institutions, comparable to programs at companies like Prudential Financial, MetLife, and Aflac.
• The share price of $40.22 for tax withholdings provides a snapshot of the company's valuation at the time of the transaction, which can be benchmarked against peer valuations in the insurance and financial services sector.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The successful achievement of performance objectives leading to executive equity vesting can be seen as a positive signal for company performance and value creation.
• Employees: The company's ability to meet performance targets may foster a positive work environment and reinforce confidence in leadership.
• Management: The vesting of performance shares directly rewards the CEO for achieving strategic goals, aligning executive interests with long-term company success.

Next Steps

• No specific future actions or milestones are mentioned in this Form 4 filing, which is primarily a historical transaction report.

Key Dates

Keywords

Equitable Holdings, EQH, Mark Pearson, CEO, Director, Form 4, Insider Transaction, Performance Shares, Restricted Stock Units, Equity Vesting, Beneficial Ownership, Executive Compensation