Form 4: Pfizer Director Scott Gottlieb Acquires Phantom Stock Units

Director Scott Gottlieb acquired 8,999 phantom stock units in Pfizer, Inc. as part of a deferred compensation plan.

Summary

• On April 24, 2025, Scott Gottlieb, a director of Pfizer Inc., acquired 8,999 phantom stock units.
• The acquisition was made under the Pfizer Inc. Nonfunded Deferred Compensation and Unit Award Plan for Non-Employee Directors.
• Each unit represents one phantom share of Pfizer common stock.
• These units are part of deferred director's compensation and will be settled in cash or common stock upon Gottlieb's retirement from the Board of Directors.
• Following the transaction, Gottlieb beneficially owns 46,115.482 derivative securities.
• The price of the derivative security is $22.78.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The document reflects a routine transaction related to director compensation, which is generally viewed neutrally. The acquisition of phantom stock units is a positive sign of alignment with company performance.

Positives

• The acquisition of phantom stock units aligns the director's interests with the long-term performance of Pfizer.
• Deferred compensation plans can be tax-efficient for directors.

Future Outlook

The phantom stock units will be settled in cash or common stock at the director's election following retirement from the Board of Directors.

Industry Context

Director compensation through equity-based awards is a common practice in publicly traded companies to align the interests of directors with shareholders.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Pfizer's director compensation practices, including the use of phantom stock units, are generally in line with those of other large pharmaceutical companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Merck.
• These companies often use a mix of cash, stock options, and restricted stock units to compensate their directors.

Stakeholder Impact

• The acquisition of phantom stock units has a minimal direct impact on shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers, and creditors.
• It reinforces the director's alignment with the company's long-term success.

Key Dates

Keywords

Form 4, Pfizer, Scott Gottlieb, phantom stock units, deferred compensation, director compensation, beneficial ownership, derivative securities