Form 4: Stepan EVP Haire Settles RSUs, Adjusts Holdings

Stepan Company's EVP of Supply Chain, Robert Joseph Haire, settled restricted stock units and adjusted his beneficial ownership through tax withholdings in early March 2026.

Summary

• Robert Joseph Haire, EVP, Supply Chain at Stepan Co (SCL), settled Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) into common stock on March 3 and March 4, 2026.
• On March 3, 2026, 1,670 shares of common stock were acquired at $48.985 per share from RSU settlement, and 490 shares were disposed of at the same price to satisfy tax liabilities.
• On March 4, 2026, 571 shares of common stock were acquired at $49.615 per share from RSU settlement, and 168 shares were disposed of at the same price to satisfy tax liabilities.
• Following these transactions, Mr. Haire directly beneficially owns 4,121.765 shares of common stock and indirectly owns 90.269 shares via the ESOP II Trust.
• Remaining derivative holdings include 3,342 Restricted Stock Units vesting ratably over three years from March 3, 2026, and 572 Restricted Stock Units vesting ratably over three years from March 4, 2025.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this as a moderately positive event, reflecting the successful vesting of executive compensation, which aligns management's interests with shareholders. The tax withholding is a standard, neutral component of such transactions.

Positives

• Robert Joseph Haire, EVP, Supply Chain, received common stock from the settlement of Restricted Stock Units, increasing his direct beneficial ownership.
• The vesting of RSUs represents a successful realization of long-term incentive compensation for the executive.

Negatives

• A portion of the acquired shares (490 shares on March 3 and 168 shares on March 4) were withheld to satisfy tax liabilities associated with the RSU vesting.

Future Outlook

NA

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that this Form 4 filing details routine executive compensation activities, specifically the vesting and settlement of Restricted Stock Units, which is a common practice across industries for aligning executive incentives with shareholder value. It does not provide broader industry-specific insights.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The executive's increased direct beneficial ownership aligns their interests more closely with shareholders. The settlement of RSUs is a pre-planned compensation event and does not indicate new strategic shifts.
• Employees: No direct impact on general employees is indicated by this filing.

Next Steps

• Remaining Restricted Stock Units (3,342 units) will continue to vest ratably over three years from March 3, 2026.
• Remaining Restricted Stock Units (572 units) will continue to vest ratably over three years from March 4, 2025.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 filing details routine executive compensation activities, specifically the vesting and settlement of Restricted Stock Units and subsequent tax withholdings. These are standard, pre-planned transactions and do not provide new material information regarding the company's operational performance, strategic direction, or financial health that would warrant a change in investment recommendation. Therefore, a 'hold' recommendation is appropriate as the filing does not present new catalysts for significant price movement.

Keywords

Stepan Co, SCL, Form 4, Insider Trading, Restricted Stock Units, RSU, Executive Compensation, Beneficial Ownership, Robert Joseph Haire, EVP Supply Chain