Form 4: Kroger Director Elaine L. Chao Acquires Phantom Stock Through Dividend Reinvestment

Director Elaine L. Chao acquired 65.347 phantom shares of Kroger stock through dividend reinvestment in a deferred compensation plan.

Summary

• Elaine L. Chao, a director at Kroger Co., acquired 65.347 phantom shares of common stock on December 2, 2024.
• These phantom shares were acquired through dividend reinvestment within a deferred compensation plan.
• Each phantom share represents the right to receive one common share upon distribution from the deferred compensation account.
• The price of the phantom stock was $60.15 per share.
• Following the transaction, Ms. Chao beneficially owns 12,348.511 phantom shares directly.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The document reflects a routine transaction, indicating a positive but not overly significant sentiment. It shows continued investment by a director.

Positives

• The acquisition of phantom stock through dividend reinvestment indicates a continued investment in the company by a director.
• The deferred compensation plan allows for long-term alignment of interests between the director and the company.

Future Outlook

The phantom shares will be distributed following the termination of the reporting person's services as an Independent Director of The Kroger Co.

Industry Context

This is a routine filing related to insider transactions and is common for directors of publicly traded companies. It reflects standard compensation practices.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Many publicly traded companies use deferred compensation plans and phantom stock as part of their executive and director compensation packages.
• Dividend reinvestment within these plans is a common practice to increase holdings over time.
• The use of phantom stock is similar to other companies such as Walmart and Target, which also use equity-based compensation for their directors.

Stakeholder Impact

• The transaction has a minor positive impact on shareholders as it shows continued investment by a director.
• The transaction has no direct impact on employees, customers, suppliers, or creditors.

Key Dates

Keywords

Kroger, phantom stock, dividend reinvestment, deferred compensation, director, insider trading, Form 4, Elaine L. Chao