Form 4: Stellar Bancorp Director John Beckworth Acquires Restricted Stock Grant

Stellar Bancorp, Inc. Director John Beckworth has reported the acquisition of 2,230 restricted shares of common stock, which are set to vest in May 2026.

Summary

• John Beckworth, a Director of Stellar Bancorp, Inc. (STEL), acquired 2,230 shares of common stock on June 6, 2025.
• These shares are restricted and will vest on May 1, 2026, contingent upon his continued service as a director.
• The acquisition was a grant with a reported price of $0 per share, indicating it is likely part of his compensation package.
• Following this transaction, Mr. Beckworth directly beneficially owns 106,221 shares of common stock.
• Additionally, he indirectly beneficially owns 94,560 shares through the Laura Hobby Beckworth 1999 WPH Trust, where his spouse serves as trustee.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The sentiment is moderately positive as it indicates a director's continued commitment to the company through equity compensation, aligning their interests with shareholders. This is a routine and expected event for corporate governance.

Positives

• The acquisition of restricted shares by a director aligns management's interests with those of shareholders, as the value of the compensation is tied to the company's stock performance.
• The grant of restricted stock is a common and standard practice for compensating board members, indicating a stable corporate governance structure regarding executive incentives.

Future Outlook

The 2,230 restricted shares granted to Director John Beckworth are scheduled to vest on May 1, 2026, provided he continues his service as a director of Stellar Bancorp, Inc. until that date.

Industry Context

The grant of restricted stock to a director is a routine form of equity compensation within the financial services industry, designed to incentivize long-term commitment and align director interests with shareholder value creation. This filing reflects standard corporate governance practices for public companies.

Related Party Transactions

• John Beckworth indirectly beneficially owns 94,560 shares through the Laura Hobby Beckworth 1999 WPH Trust, where his spouse serves as trustee.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The grant of restricted stock to a director can be seen as a positive for shareholders, as it ties a portion of the director's compensation to the company's stock performance, fostering alignment of interests.

Next Steps

• The 2,230 restricted shares are expected to vest on May 1, 2026, assuming John Beckworth continues his service as a director.

Key Dates

Keywords

Stellar Bancorp, STEL, Form 4, Insider Transaction, Restricted Stock, Director Compensation, Beneficial Ownership, Equity Grant