Form 4: Marathon Bancorp COO Boosts Stake

Marathon Bancorp's EVP and COO, Michelle Knopf, increased her indirect beneficial ownership of common stock through 401(k) plan acquisitions.

Summary

• Michelle Knopf, EVP and COO of Marathon Bancorp, Inc. (MBBC), reported changes in her beneficial ownership of company securities.
• She acquired a total of 1,949 shares of common stock indirectly through her 401(k) plan on December 1 and 2, 2025.
• The acquisitions were made at prices of $11.2668 for 1,393 shares, $11.11 for 536 shares, and $11.30 for 20 shares.
• Following these transactions, her indirect beneficial ownership in the 401(k) plan increased to 18,298 shares.
• She also directly owns 3,418 shares, which include restricted stock vesting at a rate of 20% per year commencing on June 28, 2023, and May 16, 2024.
• An additional 1,274 shares are indirectly owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
• Knopf holds stock options for 4,498 shares with an exercise price of $8.1294, vesting 20% annually from June 28, 2023, and expiring on June 28, 2032.
• She also holds stock options for 4,804 shares with an exercise price of $6.4831, vesting 20% annually from May 16, 2024, and expiring on May 16, 2033.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The sentiment is moderately positive due to an executive increasing their beneficial ownership, which typically signals confidence in the company's future. However, the transactions are relatively small and through a 401(k), making the impact less significant than a large open-market purchase.

Positives

• An executive increasing their stake in the company, even indirectly through a 401(k) plan, can signal confidence in the company's future performance and alignment with shareholder interests.

Future Outlook

NA

Industry Context

This Form 4 filing reflects routine insider trading activity, specifically an executive increasing their stake in the company. Such actions are generally viewed positively as they indicate management's belief in the company's value and future prospects, aligning executive interests with those of shareholders. In the banking sector, insider buying can sometimes precede periods of stability or growth, though this filing alone does not provide sufficient data for a broader industry trend analysis.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders may view the executive's increased stake as a positive signal of management confidence, potentially bolstering investor sentiment.

Key Dates

Recommendation

The filing indicates an executive's increased beneficial ownership through routine 401(k) acquisitions, which is a positive signal of confidence. However, the scale of these transactions is not substantial enough to warrant a 'buy' recommendation on its own. It reinforces a 'hold' position for existing investors, suggesting management's alignment with shareholder interests, but does not present new fundamental information to change a broader investment thesis.

Keywords

Marathon Bancorp, MBBC, Michelle Knopf, Insider Trading, Form 4, Stock Acquisition, Beneficial Ownership, Executive Stock, 401(k), ESOP, Stock Options