Ciena (CIEN) strategy chief has 2,350 shares withheld for RSU taxes
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
4
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Ciena Corporation SVP and Chief Strategy Officer David M. Rothenstein reported routine tax-related share withholdings. On June 20, 2026, a total of 2,350 shares of Ciena common stock were withheld at $428.22 per share to cover tax liabilities from previously granted restricted stock unit awards. After these transactions, he directly holds about 186,902 shares, which the filing notes include unvested restricted stock units and performance stock units.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Insider Trade Summary
5 transactions reported
Mixed
5 txns
Insider
Rothenstein David M
Role
SVP and Chief Strategy Officer
| Type | Security | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tax Withholding | Common Stock | 679 | $428.22 | $291K |
| Tax Withholding | Common Stock | 204 | $428.22 | $87K |
| Tax Withholding | Common Stock | 811 | $428.22 | $347K |
| Tax Withholding | Common Stock | 436 | $428.22 | $187K |
| Tax Withholding | Common Stock | 220 | $428.22 | $94K |
Holdings After Transaction:
Common Stock — 186,902 shares (Direct, null)
Footnotes (1)
- Represents shares withheld to cover payment of the tax liabilities of the reporting person related to a restricted stock unit (RSU) award agreement dated 12/13/2022. Acquisition of the RSU was previously reported in Table I of the reporting person's Form 4 filed on 12/15/2022. Shares reported include unvested Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and Performance Stock Units (PSUs). Represents shares withheld to cover payment of the tax liabilities of the reporting person related to a restricted stock unit (RSU) award agreement dated 12/12/2023. Acquisition of the RSU was previously reported in Table I of the reporting person's Form 4 filed on 12/14/2023. Represents shares withheld to cover payment of the tax liabilities of the reporting person related to a restricted stock unit (RSU) award agreement dated 12/17/2024. Acquisition of the RSU was previously reported in Table I of the reporting person's Form 4 filed on 12/19/2024. Represents shares withheld to cover payment of the tax liabilities of the reporting person related to a restricted stock unit (RSU) award agreement dated 12/16/2025. Acquisition of the RSU was previously reported in Table I of the reporting person's Form 4 filed on 12/18/2025.
Key Figures
Tax-withheld shares: 2,350 shares
Withholding price: $428.22 per share
Post-transaction holdings: 186,902 shares
3 metrics
Tax-withheld shares
2,350 shares
Shares withheld to cover RSU-related tax liabilities
Withholding price
$428.22 per share
Valuation used for tax-withholding share dispositions
Post-transaction holdings
186,902 shares
Direct holdings after tax-withholding transactions, including unvested RSUs and PSUs
Key Terms
restricted stock unit (RSU), Performance Stock Units (PSUs), tax-withholding disposition, Form 4
4 terms
restricted stock unit (RSU) financial
"Represents shares withheld to cover payment of the tax liabilities of the reporting person related to a restricted stock unit (RSU) award agreement"
A restricted stock unit (RSU) is a promise from a company to give an employee company shares (or cash equal to their value) at a future date if certain conditions are met, such as staying with the company or hitting performance targets. For investors, RSUs matter because when they convert into actual shares they increase the number of shares available and can create selling pressure as employees cash out—think of them as a future paycheck paid in company stock.
Performance Stock Units (PSUs) financial
"Shares reported include unvested Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and Performance Stock Units (PSUs)."
Performance stock units (PSUs) are a form of executive or employee pay that promise company shares only if pre-set performance goals are met over a defined period; think of them as a bonus paid in stock that arrives only when the company hits agreed targets. Investors watch PSUs because they affect the number of shares outstanding (dilution) and reveal how management’s pay is tied to financial or operational results, aligning incentives with shareholder outcomes.
tax-withholding disposition financial
"transaction_action: "tax-withholding disposition" for code F transactions"
A tax-withholding disposition is an event or transaction—such as selling or transferring securities, exercising options, or receiving compensation—that triggers a requirement to hold back part of the payment and remit it to tax authorities. It matters to investors because it reduces the cash they receive immediately and can change the timing and amount of taxable income, like a cashier taking a portion of your sale proceeds to pay taxes before you get the rest.
Form 4 regulatory
"Acquisition of the RSU was previously reported in Table I of the reporting person's Form 4 filed on 12/15/2022."
Form 4 is a official document that company insiders, such as executives or major shareholders, file with regulators whenever they buy or sell company shares. It provides transparency about how those with inside knowledge are trading, helping investors see if insiders are confident in the company's prospects or may be selling for personal reasons. This information can influence investor decisions by revealing insiders' perspectives on the company's value.
FAQ
What did Ciena (CIEN) executive David M. Rothenstein report in this Form 4?
David M. Rothenstein reported that 2,350 Ciena common shares were withheld to cover tax liabilities from vesting restricted stock units. These are tax-withholding dispositions, not open-market sales, and relate to previously disclosed RSU awards granted in prior years.
Are the Ciena (CIEN) Form 4 transactions open-market sales by the executive?
No, the transactions are not open-market sales. They are coded F and described as shares withheld to cover tax liabilities from restricted stock unit vesting. This means the company retained shares for taxes rather than the executive actively selling them in the market.