Form 4: Ultragenyx CEO Kakkis Reports Stock Transactions

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.'s President & CEO, Emil D. Kakkis, reported the acquisition of shares from performance units and subsequent sale to cover tax withholdings.

Summary

• Emil D. Kakkis, President & CEO and Director of Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (RARE), reported transactions involving the company's common stock.
• On March 1, 2026, Kakkis acquired 71,177 shares of common stock at a price of $0, resulting from the conversion of previously granted performance stock units upon certification of performance metrics.
• Following this acquisition, Kakkis's direct beneficial ownership increased to 712,908 shares.
• On March 2, 2026, Kakkis sold 54,404 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $22.80 per share.
• This sale was conducted to satisfy required tax withholdings associated with the vesting of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs).
• After these transactions, Kakkis's direct beneficial ownership stands at 658,994 shares, with an additional 2,158,985 shares held indirectly through the Emil Kakkis and Jenny Soriano Living Trust, dated June 18, 2009.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this as a neutral event. The acquisition of shares from performance units is positive, reflecting achieved metrics, but the subsequent sale is a routine tax-related disposition, not a discretionary sale indicating a change in sentiment.

Positives

• Acquisition of 71,177 shares of common stock on March 1, 2026, at a price of $0, indicating successful certification of performance metrics for previously granted performance stock units.

Negatives

• Disposition of 54,404 shares of common stock on March 2, 2026, at a weighted average price of $22.80, to cover tax withholdings from RSU vesting, reducing direct beneficial ownership.

Future Outlook

NA

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that insider transactions, particularly those related to tax obligations from vesting equity, are common and generally not indicative of management's long-term view on the company's prospects, unlike open market purchases or sales.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The transactions represent routine executive compensation events, including the vesting of performance units and the sale of shares to cover tax obligations. This is generally expected and does not signal a change in company fundamentals or management's long-term view.

Key Dates

Recommendation

The transactions reported are routine for an executive receiving equity compensation, involving the conversion of performance units and a subsequent sale to cover tax obligations. They do not signal a change in the company's fundamental outlook or management's confidence, thus a "hold" recommendation is appropriate as this filing provides no new information to alter an existing investment thesis.

Keywords

Ultragenyx, RARE, Emil Kakkis, Form 4, insider transaction, stock transaction, CEO, director, performance stock units, RSU, tax withholding