Form 4: Sonoco CEO Coker Reports Stock Gift, RSU Dividend Equivalents

Sonoco Products Co. President & CEO R. Howard Coker reported a gift of 2,360 shares of common stock and the acquisition of 888 dividend equivalents on restricted stock units.

Summary

• R. Howard Coker, President & CEO of Sonoco Products Co. (SON), reported changes in his beneficial ownership.
• On December 2, 2025, Coker disposed of 2,360 shares of common stock via a gift (transaction code 'G') at a price of $0.0000 per share.
• Following this transaction, Coker directly owns 495,545 shares of common stock and indirectly owns 17,873.7037 shares through his spouse.
• On December 12, 2025, Coker acquired 888 dividend equivalents on Restricted Stock Units (RSUs).
• These dividend equivalents are the economic equivalent of one share of Sonoco Products Company common stock each and were acquired quarterly.
• The dividend equivalents will be settled upon Coker's retirement or other termination of service.
• Following this acquisition, Coker directly owns 18,183.1 derivative securities (dividend equivalents on RSUs).

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: The filing reports routine insider transactions, including a gift of shares and the acquisition of dividend equivalents on restricted stock units, which are standard compensation mechanisms. No significant positive or negative operational or financial news is conveyed.

Positives

• Acquisition of 888 dividend equivalents on Restricted Stock Units, which aligns executive compensation with company performance and shareholder value.

Negatives

• Disposition of 2,360 shares of common stock by gift, which reduces the direct ownership stake of the President & CEO.

Future Outlook

NA

Industry Context

NA

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The gift of shares represents a minor reduction in direct insider ownership, while the acquisition of dividend equivalents on RSUs further aligns executive incentives with long-term shareholder value.

Key Dates

Recommendation

The Form 4 details routine insider transactions, including a gift of common stock and the acquisition of dividend equivalents on restricted stock units as part of executive compensation. These transactions do not provide new material information that would significantly alter the investment thesis for Sonoco Products Co., thus a 'hold' recommendation remains appropriate based solely on this filing.

Keywords

Sonoco Products Co, SON, R. Howard Coker, Form 4, Insider Transaction, Stock Gift, Restricted Stock Units, Dividend Equivalents, CEO, Beneficial Ownership