Form 4: Greif Executive Boosts Stake with Stock Awards

Matthew B. Leahy, SVP SBU GM Innovative Closure at Greif, Inc., increased his direct beneficial ownership of Class A Common Stock through performance share awards and restricted stock unit conversions.

Summary

• Matthew B. Leahy, SVP SBU GM Innovative Closure, reported changes in his beneficial ownership of Greif, Inc. Class A Common Stock.
• On January 14, 2026, Leahy acquired 772 shares of Class A Common Stock through the conversion of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs).
• He also received an award of 1,831 Performance Shares, which are subject to a one-year transfer restriction.
• Concurrently, 256 and 591 shares of Class A Common Stock were disposed of to cover tax withholdings related to these transactions.
• Following these transactions, Leahy directly beneficially owns 4,038.7797 shares of Class A Common Stock and 4,196 Restricted Stock Units.
• The reported Class A Common Stock ownership includes 109.0468 shares acquired under the Greif, Inc. Colleague Stock Purchase Plan.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The filing indicates an increase in executive ownership through performance-based awards and RSU conversions, which generally signals management confidence and alignment with shareholder interests, despite some shares being sold for tax purposes.

Positives

• Matthew B. Leahy, a Senior Vice President, increased his direct beneficial ownership of Class A Common Stock, indicating continued alignment with shareholder interests.
• The award of 1,831 Performance Shares demonstrates management's incentive structure is tied to company performance.

Negatives

• A total of 847 shares were disposed of to cover tax withholdings, which is a common occurrence with equity awards but reduces the immediate net increase in direct ownership.

Future Outlook

The Restricted Stock Units represent a contingent right to receive shares on the third anniversary of their grant date. The Performance Shares awarded are subject to a one-year restriction on transfer.

Industry Context

Insider stock acquisitions and performance-based equity awards are standard practices in publicly traded companies. These mechanisms are commonly used to align the interests of executives with those of shareholders, incentivizing long-term company performance and retention.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Equity compensation, including performance shares and restricted stock units, is a common practice across various industries for executive incentives. The specific structure and value of these awards would typically be benchmarked against peer companies in the industrial packaging sector to assess competitiveness, though such detailed comparative data is not provided in this filing.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders benefit from increased executive ownership, which aligns management incentives with long-term company performance and value creation.

Next Steps

• Restricted Stock Units will convert to Class A Common Stock on their third anniversary.
• Performance Shares are subject to a one-year restriction on transfer.

Key Dates

Recommendation

The Form 4 indicates a senior executive is increasing their direct beneficial ownership in Greif, Inc. through performance-based awards and RSU conversions. This generally signals management confidence and aligns executive interests with shareholders. However, this filing is a routine disclosure of insider transactions and does not contain broader financial results, strategic updates, or market-moving news that would typically drive a strong buy or sell recommendation. Therefore, a 'hold' recommendation is appropriate, pending further comprehensive analysis of the company's financial performance and market position.

Keywords

Greif Inc, GEF, Form 4, insider trading, beneficial ownership, stock award, restricted stock unit, performance shares, executive compensation, Matthew B. Leahy