Designer Brands (NYSE: DBI) CEO granted 12,145 dividend equivalent rights on RSUs

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Designer Brands Inc. CEO and director Douglas M. Howe reported an acquisition of derivative securities in the form of 12,145 Dividend Equivalent Rights on Class A Common Shares. These rights accrued on previously awarded restricted stock units and each right is the economic equivalent of one Class A common share. Following this grant-related accrual, Howe holds 94,377 Dividend Equivalent Rights directly.

Insider Trade Summary

1 transaction reported

Mixed 1 txn

Insider HOWE DOUGLAS M.

Role CEO

Type	Security	Shares	Price	Value
Grant/Award	Dividend Equivalent Rights	12,145	$0.00	--

Holdings After Transaction: Dividend Equivalent Rights — 94,377 shares (Direct)

Footnotes (1)

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Key Figures

Dividend Equivalent Rights acquired: 12,145 rights Total Dividend Equivalent Rights after transaction: 94,377 rights Price per right: $0.00 +1 more

4 metrics

Dividend Equivalent Rights acquired 12,145 rights Grant/award acquisition on April 10, 2026

Total Dividend Equivalent Rights after transaction 94,377 rights Direct holdings following the reported acquisition

Price per right $0.00 Grant of Dividend Equivalent Rights, no cash price

Underlying Class A common shares 12,145 shares equivalent Each Dividend Equivalent Right equals one Class A common share

Key Terms

Dividend Equivalent Rights, restricted stock units (RSUs), 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 (RSUs) financial

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

Restricted stock units (RSUs) are a type of company promise to give employees shares of stock in the future, usually after certain conditions like working for a set time. They are like a gift promised today that you receive later, which can become valuable if the company's stock price goes up. RSUs matter because they are a way companies reward employees and can be a significant part of compensation.

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.

Form 4 Insider Transactions: What Each Field Means →

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^*

HOWE DOUGLAS M.

(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)
	CEO

2a. Foreign Trading Symbol

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
04/10/2026

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)	04/10/2026		A		12,145		(1)	(1)	Class A Common Shares	12,145	$0.0000	94,377	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	04/14/2026
	** 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)

FAQ

What insider transaction did Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) disclose for Douglas M. Howe?

Designer Brands Inc. disclosed that CEO and director Douglas M. Howe acquired 12,145 Dividend Equivalent Rights tied to previously awarded restricted stock units. These rights relate to Class A common shares and increase his directly held Dividend Equivalent Rights position to 94,377.

What are Dividend Equivalent Rights reported in the DBI Form 4 filing?

The Dividend Equivalent Rights accrue on previously awarded restricted stock units and become exercisable proportionately with those units. Each right is the economic equivalent of one share of Designer Brands Inc.'s Class A common stock, effectively mirroring the value of a single common share.

How many Dividend Equivalent Rights did the DBI CEO acquire in this Form 4?

Douglas M. Howe acquired 12,145 Dividend Equivalent Rights in this reported transaction. These derivative rights are linked to existing restricted stock units and represent the economic equivalent of 12,145 Class A common shares of Designer Brands Inc. based on the filing’s description.

What is Douglas M. Howe’s total Dividend Equivalent Rights position after the DBI transaction?

After the reported grant-related acquisition, Douglas M. Howe holds a total of 94,377 Dividend Equivalent Rights. This figure reflects direct ownership of derivative rights that track the value of Designer Brands Inc.'s Class A common stock on a one-for-one economic basis.

Does the DBI Form 4 show a market buy or sell by the CEO?

The DBI Form 4 shows a grant or award acquisition coded as “A,” not an open-market buy or sell. It reflects 12,145 Dividend Equivalent Rights accruing on previously awarded restricted stock units rather than a discretionary purchase or sale in the open market.