Form 4: LendingTree COO Scott Peyree Acquires Shares and Restricted Stock Units

LendingTree's Chief Operating Officer, Scott Peyree, recently acquired common stock and restricted stock units, increasing his beneficial ownership in the company.

Summary

• On March 10, 2025, Scott Peyree, the Chief Operating Officer of LendingTree, Inc., acquired 2,027 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $41.80, with individual transactions ranging from $41.46 to $42.46.
• He also acquired 3,122 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $42.36, with individual transactions ranging from $42.48 to $43.04.
• Following these transactions, Peyree directly owns 55,715 shares of LendingTree common stock.
• Additionally, he indirectly owns 9,622 shares through a revocable trust and 1,689 shares through a grantor retained annuity trust.
• Peyree was also granted 22,500 restricted stock units (RSUs) that will vest in three equal annual installments starting March 10, 2026.
• He also received 30,000 performance-vested restricted stock units (PVRSUs) that vest upon achieving specific price hurdles ($60, $75, and $90) within a four-year period.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: The sentiment is neutral to slightly positive. The COO increasing their stake in the company is generally a good sign, but it's a routine transaction.

Positives

• The acquisition of shares by a key executive like the COO can be seen as a positive signal, indicating confidence in the company's future prospects.
• The granting of performance-vested restricted stock units (PVRSUs) incentivizes the executive to drive the company's stock price higher.

Risks

• The performance-vested restricted stock units (PVRSUs) may not vest if the company fails to achieve the specified price hurdles within the given timeframe.
• The vesting of a large number of restricted stock units (RSUs) could potentially dilute existing shareholders.

Future Outlook

The vesting of performance-based RSUs is contingent on LendingTree achieving specific stock price targets over the next four years.

Industry Context

Executive stock ownership is a common practice in publicly traded companies to align management's interests with those of shareholders. Grants of restricted stock and performance-based equity are standard compensation tools.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Stock ownership and equity-based compensation are standard practices across the financial technology industry.
• Companies like Rocket Companies, Upstart, and SoFi also utilize similar compensation structures to incentivize their executives.
• The vesting schedules and performance metrics associated with the restricted stock units are typical for executive compensation packages.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders may view the COO's stock acquisition as a positive signal.
• Employees may be motivated by the executive's increased stake in the company's success.

Next Steps

• Monitor LendingTree's stock price to see if the performance hurdles for the PVRSUs are met.
• Track the vesting of the restricted stock units over the next three years.

Key Dates