Form 4: Stellar Bancorp Director Cynthia Dopjera Receives Restricted Stock Grant

Stellar Bancorp, Inc. Director Cynthia A. Dopjera was granted 2,230 restricted shares of common stock, vesting in May 2026, as part of her compensation.

Summary

• Cynthia A. Dopjera, a Director of Stellar Bancorp, Inc. (STEL), acquired 2,230 shares of common stock on June 6, 2025.
• The acquisition was a grant of restricted stock at a price of $0 per share.
• These restricted shares are scheduled to vest on May 1, 2026, contingent upon her continued service as a director.
• Following this transaction, Ms. Dopjera directly beneficially owns 10,895 shares of common stock.
• Additionally, she indirectly beneficially owns 538 shares through the Cynthia A. Dopjera Living Trust, for which she serves as trustee.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The grant of restricted stock to a director is a positive event as it aligns the director's interests with shareholders and promotes long-term commitment, though it is a routine compensation disclosure rather than a significant operational or financial announcement.

Positives

• The grant of 2,230 restricted shares to Director Cynthia A. Dopjera at a price of $0 aligns her interests with those of shareholders, as the value of the shares is tied to the company's performance.
• The vesting schedule, contingent on continued service until May 1, 2026, promotes long-term commitment and stability in the board of directors.

Negatives

• N/A (Form 4 primarily reports insider transactions and does not typically contain negative financial or operational information).

Risks

• N/A (Form 4 is a transaction disclosure and does not detail company-specific risks or challenges).

Future Outlook

The restricted shares granted to Director Cynthia A. Dopjera are set to vest on May 1, 2026, contingent upon her continued service as a director of Stellar Bancorp, Inc. This indicates an expectation of her ongoing involvement with the company's governance.

Management Comments

• N/A (Form 4 is a regulatory filing of insider transactions and does not typically include direct management commentary or quotes).

Industry Context

This Form 4 filing details an insider transaction for Stellar Bancorp, Inc., a common occurrence in the financial services industry where executive and director compensation often includes equity grants to align interests with shareholders. Such grants are standard practice for publicly traded companies.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• N/A (This document reports a specific insider transaction and does not provide data for industry-wide comparisons of financial performance or operational metrics).

Management Changes

Corporate Governance

Legal Proceedings

• N/A (The document does not contain any information about legal proceedings or regulatory matters).

Related Party Transactions

• N/A (The document details a stock grant to a director and her existing indirect beneficial ownership through a living trust, which is a standard disclosure for insider holdings, not a new related party transaction in the context of unusual dealings).

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The grant of restricted stock to a director aligns her financial interests with those of shareholders, potentially encouraging decisions that enhance long-term shareholder value.
• Employees/Management: While not directly impacting general employees, this form of compensation is typical for senior leadership and board members, reflecting standard corporate governance practices.

Next Steps

• The restricted shares granted to Cynthia A. Dopjera are scheduled to vest on May 1, 2026, provided she continues her service as a director of Stellar Bancorp, Inc.

Key Dates

Keywords

Stellar Bancorp, STEL, Form 4, insider transaction, restricted stock, director compensation, stock grant, beneficial ownership