Form 4: Lowe's Director Simkins Acquires Phantom Stock

Lowe's Director Lawrence Simkins acquired 103.666 shares of phantom stock as deferred compensation, increasing his beneficial ownership to 740.832 shares.

Summary

• Lawrence Simkins, a Director at Lowe's Companies Inc. (LOW), acquired 103.666 shares of phantom stock.
• The transaction, dated December 31, 2025, was made pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1(c) plan.
• This acquisition represents a credit of deferred compensation to Simkins' deferred stock account under the Issuer's Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan.
• Each share of phantom stock is the economic equivalent of one share of Lowe's common stock, with the cash value payable upon Simkins ceasing to be a director.
• The price of the derivative security (phantom stock) was $241.16 per share.
• Following this transaction, Simkins beneficially owns a total of 740.832 shares of phantom stock.
• The reported beneficial ownership also includes the credit of dividends to the Director's deferred stock account.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: Slightly positive, as it indicates a director's continued alignment with the company through a compensation-related increase in beneficial ownership, albeit non-cash.

Positives

• The acquisition of phantom stock by a director, even as deferred compensation, aligns the director's interests with those of shareholders.
• The transaction was executed under a Rule 10b5-1(c) plan, indicating a pre-arranged and systematic approach to compensation and share ownership.

Future Outlook

This filing does not contain specific forward-looking statements or guidance regarding the company's future performance or outlook.

Industry Context

This Form 4 filing details a routine insider transaction related to director compensation, which is a common practice across publicly traded companies to align management and director interests with shareholders. It does not provide broader industry trends or competitive insights.

Related Party Transactions

• The credit of 103.666 shares of phantom stock to Director Lawrence Simkins' deferred compensation account under the Issuer's Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan constitutes a related party transaction.
• The inclusion of dividends credited to the Director's deferred stock account is also a related party transaction.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The transaction demonstrates continued alignment of a director's interests with shareholders through deferred equity-linked compensation.
• Director (Lawrence Simkins): Receives additional deferred compensation in the form of phantom stock, increasing his stake in the company's economic performance.

Key Dates

Keywords

Lowe's, LOW, Lawrence Simkins, Director, Phantom Stock, Deferred Compensation, Insider Transaction, Form 4, SEC Filing, Rule 10b5-1