Form 4: Ladder Capital Director Receives Equity Grant

Ladder Capital Corp Director Jeffrey B. Steiner was granted 7,198 shares of Class A Common Stock at no cost, effective February 18, 2026, under a Rule 10b5-1 plan.

Summary

• Jeffrey B. Steiner, a Director of Ladder Capital Corp (LADR), was granted 7,198 shares of Class A Common Stock.
• The transaction occurred on February 18, 2026, with an acquisition price of $0.00 per share, indicating a grant rather than a purchase.
• Following this transaction, Mr. Steiner beneficially owns a total of 34,509 shares of Class A Common Stock.
• The acquisition was made pursuant to a contract, instruction, or written plan intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c).

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this as a moderately positive signal, as it indicates continued alignment of a director's interests with shareholders through equity ownership, a standard corporate governance practice.

Positives

• An equity grant to a director aligns the director's interests with those of shareholders, promoting long-term value creation.
• The transaction was executed under a Rule 10b5-1 plan, indicating a pre-planned and transparent acquisition.

Future Outlook

This Form 4 filing does not contain forward-looking statements or guidance.

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that equity grants to directors are a common practice in the financial services industry, particularly for real estate investment trusts (REITs) and commercial real estate finance companies like Ladder Capital Corp, as a means to incentivize long-term commitment and align leadership interests with shareholder returns.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Equity grants to directors are a standard compensation practice across publicly traded companies, including peers in the commercial real estate finance sector such as Starwood Property Trust (STWD) and Blackstone Mortgage Trust (BXMT).
• The grant of 7,198 shares, while specific to Mr. Steiner's compensation structure, is consistent with typical director compensation packages that often include a mix of cash and equity.

Related Party Transactions

• This filing details an equity grant to a director, which is a standard related party transaction for compensation purposes.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The grant increases director ownership, potentially aligning interests and signaling confidence.
• Employees: No direct impact on employees is indicated.
• Customers/Suppliers/Creditors: No direct impact on these stakeholders is indicated.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 filing reports a routine equity grant to a director, which is a standard compensation practice and does not provide new information significant enough to alter an investment thesis. It reinforces alignment but doesn't suggest a strong buy or sell signal.

Keywords

Ladder Capital Corp, LADR, Jeffrey B. Steiner, Director, Equity Grant, Form 4, Insider Ownership, Stock Compensation, Rule 10b5-1