Form 4: SunCoke CTO's RSU Vesting and New Grant Activity

SunCoke Energy's Chief Technology Officer, John F. Quanci, reported the vesting and settlement of previously granted restricted stock units and the grant of new RSUs.

Summary

• John F. Quanci, Chief Technology Officer of SunCoke Energy, Inc. (SXC), reported transactions involving common stock and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs).
• On February 23, 2026, a total of 15,994 shares of common stock were acquired upon the vesting of various RSU tranches (5,530, 4,963, and 5,501 shares) and simultaneously disposed of at $6.22 per share, likely for tax withholding or cash settlement.
• The net effect of these vesting and settlement transactions on common stock ownership resulted in a final direct beneficial ownership of 19,922 shares.
• On February 19, 2026, Mr. Quanci was granted 24,828 new Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) under the company's Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan.
• These new RSUs will vest in three equal annual installments on the first, second, and third anniversaries of the grant date (February 19, 2027, 2028, and 2029).
• The total underlying common stock for this new RSU grant is 74,484 shares.
• Following all reported transactions, Mr. Quanci's total direct beneficial ownership of unvested RSUs is 40,892 units.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this filing positively as it reflects ongoing executive incentive alignment through new RSU grants, a standard practice for retaining key talent and linking compensation to long-term company performance.

Positives

• The grant of 24,828 new Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) to the Chief Technology Officer indicates continued long-term incentive alignment with company performance.
• The vesting of previous RSUs demonstrates the company's commitment to its long-term incentive plan for executives.

Negatives

• The disposition of 15,994 shares of common stock upon RSU vesting, likely for tax purposes or cash settlement, reduces the direct share ownership of the Chief Technology Officer.

Future Outlook

The newly granted Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) for John F. Quanci are structured to vest in three equal annual installments, indicating a long-term incentive horizon extending through February 2029, aligning executive interests with future company performance.

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that the use of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) as a significant component of executive compensation is a common practice across various industries, including the energy sector. This approach aims to align executive incentives with long-term shareholder value creation, a trend observed in companies seeking to retain key talent and promote sustained performance. The specific structure of multi-year vesting is standard for such long-term incentive plans.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• The grant of RSUs with a three-year vesting schedule is a standard practice in executive compensation across many publicly traded companies, comparable to structures seen at peers like Arch Resources (ARCH) or Warrior Met Coal (HCC) in the broader coking coal and energy materials sector, which also utilize long-term equity incentives to retain and motivate key executives.
• The 'sell to cover' mechanism for tax withholding upon RSU vesting is a widely accepted and common method for executives to manage tax obligations without needing to fund them out-of-pocket, aligning with practices observed in most S&P 500 companies offering equity compensation.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The grant of new RSUs aligns executive incentives with long-term shareholder value creation, potentially benefiting shareholders if company performance improves.
• Employees (specifically executives): The continued use of RSUs as a compensation tool demonstrates the company's commitment to its long-term incentive plans for key personnel.

Next Steps

• The newly granted RSUs will vest in three equal annual installments on February 19, 2027, February 19, 2028, and February 19, 2029.
• Future Form 4 filings will report subsequent vesting and settlement events for these and other outstanding RSUs.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 filing details routine executive compensation activities, including the vesting of prior Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and the grant of new RSUs. Such transactions are standard and do not indicate any fundamental change in the company's operational or financial outlook. The 'sell to cover' activity for tax purposes is also a common and expected event. Therefore, the filing itself does not provide new information that would warrant a change in investment recommendation, suggesting a 'hold' position is appropriate based solely on this report.

Keywords

SunCoke Energy, SXC, Form 4, Restricted Stock Units, RSU, Executive Compensation, Insider Trading, John F. Quanci, Chief Technology Officer, Stock Grant, Vesting