Designer Brands exec awarded 8,221 dividend rights

Ferree Deborah L reported acquisition or exercise transactions in this Form 4 filing.

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Ferree Deborah L reported acquisition or exercise transactions in this Form 4 filing.

Designer Brands Inc. reported that executive Deborah L. Ferree received a grant of 8,221 dividend equivalent rights tied to previously awarded restricted stock units. Each right is the economic equivalent of one Class A common share and will become exercisable proportionately with the related RSUs. Following this award, Ferree directly holds 49,249 dividend equivalent rights.

Insights

Equity Compensation Analyst

Routine equity-based compensation, neutral for shareholders.

Executive Deborah L. Ferree received 8,221 dividend equivalent rights, each economically matching one Class A common share. These rights accrue on previously granted restricted stock units and vest on the same schedule as the underlying RSUs.

This is a non-cash compensation event at a transaction price of $0.0000 per right, increasing Ferree's total derivative-based holdings to 49,249 rights. It does not involve open-market buying or selling and has limited direct signaling value for the company’s outlook.

Insider Trade Summary

Grant/Award: 8,221 shares

Grant/Award 1 txn

Insider Ferree Deborah L

Role V. Chair; Ch Product Off

Type	Security	Shares	Price	Value
Grant/Award	Dividend Equivalent Rights F1	8,221	$0.00	$0.00

Holdings After Transaction: Dividend Equivalent Rights — 49,249 contracts (Direct)

Footnotes (1)

1. F1. The dividend equivalent rights accrued on previously awarded restricted stock units (RSUs) and become exercisable proportionately with the RSUs to which they relate. Each dividend equivalent right is the economic equivalent of one share of Issuer's Class A common stock.

Key Figures

Dividend equivalent rights granted: 8,221 rights Total rights after transaction: 49,249 rights Transaction price per right: $0.0000 per right +1 more

4 metrics

Dividend equivalent rights granted 8,221 rights Grant/award acquisition on July 8, 2026

Total rights after transaction 49,249 rights Direct holdings of dividend equivalent rights following the award

Transaction price per right $0.0000 per right Non-cash compensation grant

Underlying security shares 8,221 Class A Common Shares Each dividend equivalent right equals one Class A common share economically

Key Terms

Dividend Equivalent Rights, restricted stock units, Class A common stock

3 terms

Dividend Equivalent Rights financial

"The dividend equivalent rights accrued on previously awarded restricted stock units (RSUs)"

Dividend equivalent rights are promises that mirror the cash payments shareholders get from a company’s profits, but they are paid to holders of certain awards (like stock options or restricted stock units) rather than to actual shares. Think of them as a paycheck top‑up that matches dividends while the award is not yet a real stock, and they matter to investors because they add to employee compensation costs and potential share dilution, affecting company profitability and per‑share value.

restricted stock units financial

"The dividend equivalent rights accrued on previously awarded restricted stock units (RSUs)"

Restricted stock units are a type of company reward where employees are promised shares of stock, but they only fully own these shares after meeting certain conditions, like staying with the company for a set time. They matter because they can become valuable assets and are often used to motivate employees to help the company succeed.

Class A common stock financial

"Each dividend equivalent right is the economic equivalent of one share of Issuer's Class A common stock"

Class A common stock is a category of a company’s shares that carries a specific set of ownership rights—most commonly defined voting power and claims on dividends—set out in the company’s charter. For investors it matters because the class determines how much influence you have over corporate decisions, the share’s likely dividend and trading behavior, and how it compares in value to other share classes, like choosing a particular seat with different privileges at the company’s decision-making table.

FAQ

What insider transaction did Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) report for Deborah L. Ferree?

Designer Brands Inc. reported that Deborah L. Ferree received an award of 8,221 dividend equivalent rights on July 8, 2026. These rights relate to previously granted restricted stock units and provide economic value equal to Class A common shares.

What are the 8,221 dividend equivalent rights granted to the DBI executive?

The 8,221 dividend equivalent rights granted to the DBI executive are tied to earlier RSU awards. Each right is the economic equivalent of one Class A common share and becomes exercisable proportionately as the related RSUs vest over time.

Did the DBI Form 4 filing involve any open-market purchases or sales?

No, the DBI Form 4 reflects a grant/award acquisition of dividend equivalent rights, not open-market purchases or sales. The transaction code was A, with a price of $0.0000 per right, indicating compensation rather than trading activity.

How many dividend equivalent rights does Deborah L. Ferree hold after this DBI transaction?

After this transaction, Deborah L. Ferree holds a total of 49,249 dividend equivalent rights directly. This total reflects her position following the 8,221-right award reported in the Form 4 and represents derivative-based compensation tied to Class A common shares.

How do the dividend equivalent rights in the DBI filing vest?

The dividend equivalent rights vest proportionately with the restricted stock units to which they relate. As the underlying RSUs vest, the corresponding rights become exercisable, maintaining alignment between dividend accruals and the executive’s RSU vesting schedule.

What is the economic impact of the DBI dividend equivalent rights grant on the executive?

Each of the 8,221 dividend equivalent rights is the economic equivalent of one Class A common share of Designer Brands Inc. This grant increases the executive’s potential equity-based value without requiring any cash payment, as the transaction price was $0.0000 per right.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Available on EDGAR 07/10/2026 - 03:05 PM Accepted by SEC EDGAR 07/10/2026 - 03:05 PM Learn about SEC filing dates

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

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

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^*

Ferree Deborah L

(Last) (First) (Middle)

810 DSW DRIVE

(Street)

COLUMBUS OHIO 43219

(City) (State) (Zip)

UNITED STATES

(Country)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Designer Brands Inc. [ DBI ]

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

X	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	V. Chair; Ch Product Off

2a. Foreign Trading Symbol

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
07/08/2026

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

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

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

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

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
Dividend Equivalent Rights	(1)	07/08/2026		A		8,221		(1)	(1)	Class A Common Shares	8,221	$0.0000	49,249	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. The dividend equivalent rights accrued on previously awarded restricted stock units (RSUs) and become exercisable proportionately with the RSUs to which they relate. Each dividend equivalent right is the economic equivalent of one share of Issuer's Class A common stock.

	Katherine Alfano, Attorney-in-Fact	07/10/2026
	** 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.
* Form 4: SEC 1474 (03-26)