Aqua Metals (AQMS) CEO covers tax with 3,305 withheld shares
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Aqua Metals, Inc. (AQMS) reported a Form 4 transaction by Chief Executive Officer and director Stephen Cotton. On August 19, 2026, 3,305 shares of common stock were withheld and returned to the company’s equity plan at $2.67 per share to cover tax liabilities from the vesting of a previously granted restricted share award. Following this withholding transaction, Cotton directly holds 213,966 common shares, which includes 73,718 shares underlying unvested RSUs that are not yet deliverable.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Insider Trade Summary
Net Seller: 3,305 shares
Net Sell
1 txn
Insider
Cotton Stephen
Role
Chief Executive Officer
| Type | Security | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tax Withholding | Common Stock F1, F2 | 3,305 | $2.67 | $9K |
Holdings After Transaction:
Common Stock — 213,966 shares (Direct)
Footnotes (2)
- F1. Represents the number of shares withheld and returned to the plan to cover the tax liability of the August 19, 2026 vesting of a previously reported restricted share grant represented in Table I.
- F2. Includes 73,718 shares underlying restricted stock units ("RSUs") that are not yet vested and deliverable.
Key Figures
Shares withheld for tax liability: 3,305 shares
Withholding price per share: $2.67 per share
Shares held after transaction: 213,966 shares
+2 more
5 metrics
Shares withheld for tax liability
3,305 shares
Code F withholding on August 19, 2026
Withholding price per share
$2.67 per share
Price used for the 3,305 withheld shares
Shares held after transaction
213,966 shares
Direct holdings of Stephen Cotton following the August 19, 2026 transaction
Unvested RSUs included in holdings
73,718 shares underlying RSUs
Portion of post-transaction holdings that is unvested and not yet deliverable
Exercise price or tax-liability shares
3,305 shares
Shares counted in exercise price or tax liability category in transaction summary
Key Terms
restricted stock units ("RSUs"), withheld and returned to the plan, tax liability, code F
4 terms
restricted stock units ("RSUs") financial
"Includes 73,718 shares underlying restricted stock units ("RSUs") that are not yet vested"
Restricted stock units (RSUs) are a company promise to give an employee shares of stock (or cash equivalent) in the future, but only after certain conditions—usually staying with the company for a set time or hitting performance goals—are met. Investors watch RSUs because when they vest they increase the number of shares outstanding and can lead insiders to sell shares, affecting share price, company dilution and the true cost of employee pay.
withheld and returned to the plan financial
"Represents the number of shares withheld and returned to the plan to cover the tax"
tax liability financial
"to cover the tax liability of the August 19, 2026 vesting of a previously"
code F regulatory
"Payment of tax liability by delivering or withholding securities"
FAQ
What insider transaction did Aqua Metals (AQMS) report for Stephen Cotton on August 19, 2026?
Stephen Cotton had 3,305 shares of Aqua Metals common stock withheld and returned to the equity plan at $2.67 per share to satisfy tax liability arising from the vesting of a previously reported restricted share grant.
Was the Aqua Metals (AQMS) Form 4 transaction a market sale or purchase?
No. The Form 4 shows a code F transaction, meaning shares were withheld and returned to the plan to pay tax liability on a vesting restricted share grant, rather than a market sale or open-market purchase.
What does the footnote about RSUs in the Aqua Metals (AQMS) Form 4 indicate?
The footnote states that post-transaction holdings include 73,718 shares underlying restricted stock units (RSUs) that are not yet vested and deliverable, meaning those shares remain subject to vesting conditions.
Is the August 19, 2026 Aqua Metals (AQMS) insider transaction under a Rule 10b5-1 plan?
The filing’s Rule 10b5-1 affirmation box is unchecked (aff_10b5_one is false), and the transaction is reported as payment of tax liability by delivering or withholding securities, not as a trade under a pre-arranged trading plan.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.