Form 4: Scotts Miracle-Gro CFO Acquires Additional Phantom Stock as Part of Compensation Plan

Mark J. Scheiwer, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Administrative Officer of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, acquired 9.346 shares of phantom stock on May 27, 2025.

Summary

• Mark J. Scheiwer, EVP, CFO & CAO of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG), reported an acquisition of phantom stock.
• The transaction occurred on May 27, 2025.
• Mr. Scheiwer acquired 9.346 shares of phantom stock.
• Each share of phantom stock represents the right to receive one common share of SMG or its equivalent cash value.
• The phantom stock was acquired at a price of $60.85 per share.
• Following this transaction, Mr. Scheiwer beneficially owns a total of 1,028.106 shares of phantom stock.
• The phantom stock is payable in cash upon termination of the reporting person's employment with the Issuer.
• The reporting person has the option to transfer his phantom stock into an alternative investment at any time.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: The acquisition of phantom stock by a key executive is generally a neutral to slightly positive event, as it aligns the executive's compensation with shareholder value, indicating continued commitment and incentivization. It is a routine compensation-related transaction.

Positives

• The acquisition of phantom stock aligns the executive's interests with the company's performance, as the value of phantom stock is tied to the common share price.
• The transaction is part of the executive's compensation, indicating continued incentivization and retention.

Risks

• While not a direct risk from this filing, phantom stock, if cash-settled, does not directly dilute existing shareholders, but if equity-settled, it could lead to minor dilution upon conversion.

Future Outlook

This Form 4 filing reports a past transaction and does not provide specific forward-looking statements or guidance regarding the company's future performance or outlook.

Industry Context

This filing is a routine insider transaction report (Form 4) and does not provide information related to broader industry trends or competitive landscape within the consumer lawn and garden products sector.

Related Party Transactions

• The transaction involves the acquisition of phantom stock by an executive (Mark J. Scheiwer) from The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, which is a standard compensation-related insider transaction.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The acquisition of phantom stock by an executive can be seen as a positive signal of management's alignment with shareholder interests, as the value of phantom stock is tied to the company's share price. If settled in shares, it could lead to minor dilution, but it is often cash-settled.

Key Dates

Keywords

Scotts Miracle-Gro, SMG, Form 4, Insider Transaction, Phantom Stock, Executive Compensation, Mark J. Scheiwer, Beneficial Ownership