Form 4: Zillow Officer Errol Samuelson Receives Equity Grant

Zillow Group's Chief Industry Development Officer, Errol G. Samuelson, was granted 20,000 restricted stock units and options for 60,000 shares of Class C Capital Stock.

Summary

• Errol G. Samuelson, Zillow Group's Chief Industry Development Officer, received equity awards on March 2, 2026.
• The awards include 20,000 shares of Class C Capital Stock as Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), granted at a price of $0.
• The awards also include stock options to purchase 60,000 shares of Class C Capital Stock, granted at a price of $0 with an exercise price of $43.54 per share.
• The RSUs will vest as to 1/16th of the total amount on each of the issuer's quarterly vesting dates until fully vested.
• The stock options begin vesting on May 14, 2026, with 1/16th becoming exercisable at the first vesting date and an additional 1/16th on each issuer quarterly vesting date thereafter until fully vested.
• The stock options have an expiration date of March 2, 2036.
• Following these transactions, Mr. Samuelson beneficially owns 133,800 shares of Class C Capital Stock directly and 60,000 derivative securities (stock options) directly.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this as a moderately positive development, as it signifies continued executive commitment and aligns management's financial interests with long-term shareholder value through performance-based equity compensation.

Positives

• The grant of restricted stock units and stock options aligns the Chief Industry Development Officer's interests with those of shareholders, incentivizing long-term performance and value creation.
• The multi-year vesting schedule for both RSUs and stock options encourages the retention of key management personnel.

Future Outlook

The grants of restricted stock units and stock options are subject to future vesting schedules, which will result in Errol G. Samuelson acquiring additional shares of Zillow Group's Class C Capital Stock over time, contingent on continued employment and performance.

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that the grant of equity awards to key executives like Errol G. Samuelson is a standard practice across the technology and real estate industries. This compensation structure is designed to align executive incentives with long-term shareholder value creation and to retain top talent in competitive markets.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Equity compensation, including RSUs and stock options with multi-year vesting schedules, is a common practice for executive remuneration in publicly traded technology companies, comparable to practices at companies like Redfin, CoStar Group, or Opendoor.
• The specific grant size and vesting terms are typically determined by a company's compensation committee based on performance, market benchmarks, and individual role, aligning with general industry standards for a Chief Industry Development Officer at a company of Zillow's scale.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The equity grants align the executive's interests with shareholders, potentially leading to better long-term performance and value creation.
• Employees: May signal stability in executive leadership and a commitment to performance-based compensation.

Next Steps

• The restricted stock units will vest in quarterly increments until fully vested.
• The stock options will become exercisable in quarterly increments starting May 14, 2026, until fully vested.

Key Dates

Keywords

Zillow Group, Z, ZG, Errol Samuelson, Form 4, Insider Transaction, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Options, Equity Grant, Executive Compensation