Form 4: Knowles CFO Anderson Boosts Stake with PSU Settlement

Knowles Corp's Senior Vice President and CFO, John S. Anderson, increased his direct beneficial ownership by 10,098 shares following the settlement of performance share units.

Summary

• John S. Anderson, Senior Vice President & CFO of Knowles Corp, acquired 17,396 shares of common stock on January 30, 2026.
• This acquisition resulted from the settlement of performance share units (PSUs) previously granted under the Knowles Corporation Equity Incentive Plan.
• The PSUs were earned based on the achievement of performance goals during a three-year performance period from January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2023.
• Anderson elected to defer the receipt of these shares until January 30, 2026.
• Concurrently, 7,298 shares were disposed of to cover tax liabilities associated with the PSU settlement, with the shares valued at $24.24 each.
• Following these transactions, Anderson's direct beneficial ownership stands at 215,957 shares.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this as a moderately positive signal, as the vesting of performance-based equity indicates the company met its targets, and the CFO's increased net ownership aligns management interests with shareholders.

Positives

• The settlement of performance share units indicates that performance goals for the 2021-2023 period were met, leading to the vesting of 17,396 shares for the CFO.
• The net increase of 10,098 shares in the CFO's direct beneficial ownership demonstrates continued alignment of management's interests with shareholders.

Future Outlook

The filing does not contain explicit forward-looking statements or guidance beyond the deferred receipt date of the shares.

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that insider transactions, particularly those involving performance-based equity, often signal management's confidence in the company's long-term prospects. The vesting of PSUs suggests the company met its internal performance targets during the 2021-2023 period, which is a positive indicator for the semiconductor and audio solutions industry, where Knowles operates.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Form 4 filings are standard regulatory disclosures for insider transactions and do not typically contain information for direct comparison to industry-specific financial benchmarks or competitor project results.
• The vesting of performance share units is a common practice in executive compensation across various industries, including technology and manufacturing, aligning executive incentives with company performance.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The increase in the CFO's beneficial ownership aligns management's interests with shareholders, potentially signaling confidence in future performance.
• Employees: The vesting of performance share units could be seen as a positive indicator of company performance, potentially boosting morale if similar plans are in place for other employees.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 filing reports a routine insider transaction involving the vesting of performance share units and subsequent tax withholding. While the net increase in the CFO's beneficial ownership is a positive sign of alignment, it does not represent an open market purchase or a significant new investment decision that would warrant a change in investment recommendation. The transaction reflects past performance achievements rather than new forward-looking insights that would alter the fundamental investment thesis for Knowles Corp.

Keywords

Knowles Corp, KN, Insider Transaction, Form 4, John S. Anderson, CFO, Performance Share Units, PSU, Equity Incentive Plan, Stock Ownership