Designer Brands director receives 1,037-unit grant

The Stock Units vest on the grant date and convert into an equal number of Class A common shares when the director's Board service ends.

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Designer Brands Inc. reported that director John W. Atkinson was granted 1,037 Stock Units on October 7, 2026, representing dividend equivalent rights accrued on previously awarded units. Each unit is a contingent right to one Class A common share, vests on the grant date, and converts into an equal number of shares when his Board service ends. The reported post-transaction total was 123,221 Stock Units, including accrued dividend equivalent rights.

Insider Trade Summary

Grant/Award: 1,037 shares

Grant/Award 1 txn

Insider Atkinson John W.

Role Director

Type	Security	Shares	Price	Value
Grant/Award	Stock Unit F1, F2, F3, F4	1,037	$0.00	$0.00

Holdings After Transaction: Stock Unit — 123,221 contracts (Direct)

Footnotes (4)

1. F1. Each stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of the Issuer's Class A common stock.
2. F2. Shares represent dividend equivalent rights accrued on previously awarded stock units.
3. F3. The stock unit becomes vested upon the date of grant and will be converted to an equal number of shares of Issuer's Class A common stock upon Insider's termination of service from the Board of Directors.
4. F4. Total includes accrued dividend equivalent rights.

Key Figures

Stock Units granted: 1,037 Stock Units Shares per Stock Unit: 1 Class A common share Stock Units after transaction: 123,221 Stock Units

3 metrics

Stock Units granted 1,037 Stock Units Granted October 7, 2026

Shares per Stock Unit 1 Class A common share Each Stock Unit represents a contingent right to receive one share

Stock Units after transaction 123,221 Stock Units Reported after the October 7, 2026 transaction; total includes accrued dividend equivalent rights

Key Terms

Stock Unit, dividend equivalent rights, vested

3 terms

Stock Unit financial

"Each stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share"

dividend equivalent rights financial

"dividend equivalent rights accrued on previously awarded stock units"

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.

vested financial

"The stock unit becomes vested upon the date of grant"

FAQ

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How many DBI Stock Units did director John W. Atkinson receive?

John W. Atkinson, a director, was granted 1,037 Stock Units on October 7, 2026. They represent accrued dividend equivalent rights on previously awarded units; the reported post-transaction total was 123,221 Stock Units, including accrued dividend equivalent rights.

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

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Available on EDGAR 10/09/2026 - 02:47 PM Accepted by SEC EDGAR 10/09/2026 - 02:46 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^*

Atkinson John W.

(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
	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)

2a. Foreign Trading Symbol

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
10/07/2026

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
Stock Unit	(1)	10/07/2026		A		1,037(2)		(3)	(3)	Class A Common Shares	1,037	$0.0000	123,221(4)	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Each stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of the Issuer's Class A common stock.

2. Shares represent dividend equivalent rights accrued on previously awarded stock units.

3. The stock unit becomes vested upon the date of grant and will be converted to an equal number of shares of Issuer's Class A common stock upon Insider's termination of service from the Board of Directors.

4. Total includes accrued dividend equivalent rights.

	Lisa Yerrace, Attorney-in-Fact	10/09/2026
	** 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)