Form 4: Vitesse Energy Officer Sells Shares for Tax Obligations

Vitesse Energy's VP Chief Accounting Officer, Mike Morella, sold 5,202 shares of common stock on January 14, 2026, to cover tax liabilities from restricted stock unit vesting.

Summary

• Mike Morella, VP Chief Accounting Officer of Vitesse Energy, Inc. (VTS), reported a sale of common stock.
• The transaction involved the disposition of 5,202 shares of Vitesse Energy common stock.
• The shares were sold on January 14, 2026, at an average price of $20.129 per share.
• The total value of the shares sold was approximately $104,700.06.
• The sale was executed under an established Rule 10b5-1 plan to satisfy tax obligations related to the vesting of restricted stock units.
• Following this transaction, Mike Morella beneficially owns 82,413 shares of Vitesse Energy common stock.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: The transaction is a routine, pre-planned sale for tax purposes by an executive, which is generally considered neutral in terms of company sentiment. It does not reflect a change in the executive's confidence in the company's future or operational performance.

Positives

• The sale was conducted under a Rule 10b5-1 plan, indicating a pre-arranged, non-discretionary transaction, which enhances transparency and reduces concerns about opportunistic insider trading.
• The purpose of the sale was explicitly stated as satisfying tax obligations related to restricted stock unit vesting, a common and routine event for executives.

Negatives

• The transaction resulted in a reduction of the reporting person's direct beneficial ownership by 5,202 shares.

Future Outlook

This Form 4 filing does not contain any forward-looking statements or guidance regarding Vitesse Energy, Inc.'s future performance or strategic direction.

Management Comments

• The reporting person sold these shares under an established 10b5-1 plan for the purpose of satisfying tax owing related to the vesting of restricted stock units.
• The price reported in Column 4 is an average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $19.995 to $20.290, inclusive.
• The reporting person undertakes to provide Vitesse Energy, Inc., any security holder of Vitesse Energy, Inc., or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote to the Form 4.

Industry Context

This insider transaction is a routine event for executives managing their equity compensation and does not provide specific insights into broader industry trends or competitive landscape for the energy sector.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: Minimal impact, as it's a routine, pre-planned sale for tax purposes and a relatively small volume compared to the company's total outstanding shares.
• Employees, Customers, Suppliers, Creditors: No direct impact from this specific insider transaction.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 reports a routine, pre-planned sale of Vitesse Energy shares by a Chief Accounting Officer to cover tax obligations arising from restricted stock unit vesting. Such transactions, especially when executed under a 10b5-1 plan, are common and typically do not signal a change in the company's fundamentals or the executive's long-term outlook. Therefore, it does not warrant a change in investment recommendation, and a 'hold' stance is maintained.

Keywords

Vitesse Energy, VTS, Form 4, Insider Trading, Stock Sale, 10b5-1 Plan, Executive Compensation, Tax Obligations, Mike Morella, Chief Accounting Officer