Form 4: PEBO EVP Augenstein Boosts Stake via ESPP

Mark Augenstein, EVP of Operations at Peoples Bancorp Inc., acquired additional common stock through an employee stock purchase plan.

Summary

• Mark Augenstein, Executive Vice President of Operations at Peoples Bancorp Inc. (PEBO), acquired 23.5386 shares of common stock.
• The transaction occurred on September 30, 2025, at a price of $25.49 per share.
• The shares were acquired as a result of participation in an employee stock purchase plan (ESPP).
• Following this transaction, Mr. Augenstein directly beneficially owns a total of 20,697.3065 shares of common stock.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The acquisition of shares by an executive, even through an ESPP, generally signals confidence in the company's future prospects, contributing to a moderately positive sentiment.

Positives

• The acquisition of shares by an executive, even through an employee stock purchase plan, generally signals confidence in the company's future prospects.
• Participation in an employee stock purchase plan demonstrates alignment of executive interests with those of shareholders.

Future Outlook

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

Management Comments

• The acquisition of shares by Mark Augenstein reflects his participation in the company's employee stock purchase plan, indicating a personal investment in the company's equity.

Industry Context

Employee stock purchase plans and executive share acquisitions are common practices across the financial services industry, often used to align management incentives with shareholder interests and provide a benefit to employees.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Employee stock purchase plans are a standard component of compensation and benefits packages in many publicly traded companies, including those in the banking sector.
• The acquisition of shares by an executive, even in small amounts, is a routine event and is consistent with common practices for insider transactions reported via Form 4.

Related Party Transactions

• Acquisition of shares by an executive through an employee stock purchase plan, which is a standard employee benefit.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders may view this as a positive signal of insider confidence in the company's value and future performance.
• Employees participating in the stock purchase plan benefit from the opportunity to acquire company stock at a potentially favorable price.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This is a routine, small-scale acquisition by an executive through an employee stock purchase plan. While it indicates insider confidence, the transaction size is not significant enough to warrant a change in investment recommendation based solely on this filing. The fundamental outlook for the stock remains unchanged by this specific event.

Keywords

Peoples Bancorp, PEBO, Mark Augenstein, EVP Operations, Stock Acquisition, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Insider Transaction, Form 4, Common Stock