Cracker Barrel officer awarded RSUs, RSAs and 2,909 options
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Officer Doug Hisel, Senior Vice President, Store Operations at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (CBRL), reported multiple equity awards on 10/09/2025. He received a 2,000-share Restricted Stock Award that cliffs on 10/02/2028, 1,232 time-based RSUs that vest ratably on 9/30/2026, 9/30/2027, and 9/30/2028, and 2,909 stock options with an exercise price of $43.80 that vest ratably on the same three annual dates and expire on 09/30/2035. After these grants his direct beneficial ownership totals 3,357 common shares and 2,909 options. The restricted award is tied to his promotion and all awards are contingent on continued employment through each vesting date.
Positive
- Retention-focused award structure with a cliff-aged restricted stock grant through 10/02/2028
- Balanced mix of RSUs and options that ties compensation to multi-year performance and share-price alignment
Negative
- Options priced at $43.80 require share-price appreciation to deliver value to the officer
- Vesting tied to continued employment creates potential forfeiture risk and future insider sell windows upon vesting
Insights
Grants align senior executive pay with multi-year retention and performance.
These awards combine a cliff-vesting restricted stock grant with time-based RSUs and long-dated options, which together emphasize retention through 2028. The mix shifts some compensation to equity that vests over three years, aligning incentives with long-term company performance.
Key dependencies include continued employment to realize value and the stock price relative to the $43.80 exercise price for options. Monitor vesting milestones on 9/30/2026, 9/30/2027, and 9/30/2028 for potential insider selling or tax-driven dispositions.
Promotional equity grants are standard governance practice but increase insider stake modestly.
The reported grants raise the officer's direct holdings to 3,357 shares and add 2,909 options, reinforcing management ownership without a material single-event dilution given the company size. The cliff-vested restricted stock is specifically tied to promotion, which is a transparent retention measure.
Risks are routine: if the officer departs before vesting, awards will likely be forfeited. Investors should note the dates when these awards become exercisable or transferable around 9/30/2026 through 10/02/2028 as potential windows for ownership changes.
Insider Trade Summary
| Type | Security | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grant/Award | Stock Options (Right to Buy) | 2,909 | $0.00 | -- |
| Grant/Award | Common Stock | 2,000 | $0.00 | -- |
| Grant/Award | Common Stock | 1,232 | $43.80 | $54K |
Footnotes (1)
- Represents a Restricted Stock Award granted in connection with the reporting person's promotion within the company. This Award will cliff vest on 10/2/28 and will be contingent upon the reporting person's continued employment with the company on the vesting date. Represents an annual LTI plan award of time-based RSUs which will vest ratably over three years in equal installments on 9/30/26, 9/30/27, and 9/30/28. Represents an annual LTI plan award of stock options which will vest ratably over three years in equal installments on 9/30/26, 9/30/27, and 9/30/28.