Form 4: West Eric reports acquisition/exercise transactions in AQMS

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

West Eric reported acquisition or exercise transactions in a Form 4 filing for AQMS. The filing lists transactions totaling 28,390 shares at a weighted average price of $4.72 per share. Following the reported transactions, holdings were 67,135 shares.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

West Eric

(Last) (First) (Middle)

5370 KIETZKE LN

SUITE 201

(Street)

RENO NV 89511

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Aqua Metals, Inc. [ AQMS ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	Chief Financial Officer

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/13/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	02/13/2026		A(1)		28,390	A	$4.72	67,135(2)	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares

Explanation of Responses:

1. The reporting person is reporting the acquisition of shares of the issuer's common stock pursuant to the Aqua Metals, Inc. 2026 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

2. Includes 37,703 shares underlying restricted stock units ("RSUs") that are not yet vested and deliverable.

	/s/ Eric West	02/17/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.

FAQ

What insider transaction did Aqua Metals (AQMS) report for its CFO?

Aqua Metals reported that CFO Eric West acquired 28,390 shares of common stock at $4.72 per share. The acquisition occurred on February 13, 2026, and was made through the company’s 2026 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, a structured share purchase program for employees.

How many Aqua Metals (AQMS) shares does CFO Eric West own after this Form 4?

After the reported transaction, CFO Eric West beneficially owns 67,135 shares of Aqua Metals common stock. This figure includes 37,703 shares underlying unvested restricted stock units, which are scheduled to be delivered only when the vesting conditions are satisfied in the future.

Was the Aqua Metals (AQMS) CFO’s February 13, 2026 transaction a purchase or a grant?

The transaction is reported as an acquisition under code “A,” indicating a grant, award, or other acquisition rather than an open-market purchase. It was executed through the Aqua Metals, Inc. 2026 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which facilitates employee share ownership.

What is the role of the Aqua Metals (AQMS) 2026 Employee Stock Purchase Plan in this Form 4?

The 2026 Employee Stock Purchase Plan is the mechanism through which Eric West acquired 28,390 Aqua Metals shares. Such plans typically allow eligible employees to buy company stock on favorable terms, aligning employee interests with long-term shareholder value and company performance.

What are the restricted stock units mentioned in the Aqua Metals (AQMS) Form 4?

The filing notes that Eric West’s holdings include 37,703 shares underlying restricted stock units. These RSUs represent a right to receive shares in the future once vesting conditions are met, and are not yet vested or deliverable as of the reported transaction date.