Designer Brands Inc SEC Filings

Designer Brands Inc. CEO Douglas M. Howe received a grant of 675,675 restricted stock units on April 2, 2026. Each unit represents a contingent right to receive one Class A common share, aligning his compensation with future company performance rather than an immediate cash transaction.

The award was reported at an exercise and conversion price of $0.00 per unit, reflecting its nature as equity-based compensation rather than an open-market purchase. Following this grant, Howe directly holds 675,675 restricted stock units tied to Class A common shares.

Haley Mark reported acquisition or exercise transactions in this Form 4 filing.

Designer Brands Inc. granted Senior Vice President, Controller & Principal Accounting Officer Mark Haley 38,850 restricted stock units on April 2, 2026. Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one Class A common share. Following this grant, Haley holds 38,850 restricted stock units directly.

Designer Brands Inc. director and officer Deborah L. Ferree received a grant of 236,485 restricted stock units on Class A common shares. Each unit represents a contingent right to receive one Class A common share at no exercise price, with the award scheduled to vest or settle by April 2, 2029. Following this grant, her reported derivative holdings in these restricted stock units total 236,485 units, reflecting compensation rather than an open‑market share purchase or sale.

Davis Laura reported acquisition or exercise transactions in this Form 4 filing.

Designer Brands Inc. reported that executive vice president Laura Davis received a grant of 126,690 restricted stock units on April 2, 2026. Each unit is a contingent right to receive one share of the company’s Class A common stock, giving her a direct equity-based compensation award of the same size.

Designer Brands Inc. executive Mary Turner, EVP and President of Designer Brands Canada, received a grant of 13,005 Restricted Stock Units on April 2, 2026. Each unit represents a contingent right to receive one Class A common share.

This award is compensation-related and was acquired at a stated price of $0.00 per unit, bringing Turner’s directly held RSU balance to 13,005 units. The units are scheduled with an exercise and expiration date of April 2, 2027, indicating when the underlying shares may become deliverable if vesting and other conditions are met.

Designer Brands Inc., parent of DSW and other banners, describes its business, segments, and key risks for the year ended January 31, 2026. The company operates Retail and Brand Portfolio segments, selling footwear and accessories through stores, e-commerce, and wholesale channels, including exclusive and licensed brands.

Retail banners DSW, The Shoe Co., and Rubino serve value-focused customers in the U.S. and Canada, supported by VIP rewards programs that generated 89% of Retail segment net sales from 30.0 million active members. The Brand Portfolio segment designs and sources product globally and depends on a concentrated customer base and Asian manufacturing.

The filing emphasizes macroeconomic pressures, tariff and trade uncertainty, competitive e-commerce dynamics, cybersecurity and payment-processing risks, and climate-related disruptions. It also highlights human capital initiatives, a comprehensive benefits and training platform for approximately 13,000 associates, and philanthropic work through the Designer Brands Foundation and Soles4Souls shoe donations.

Designer Brands Inc. reported fourth quarter and fiscal 2025 results showing flat revenue but stronger profitability metrics. Fourth quarter net sales were $713.6 million, with total comparable sales down 1.9%. Gross margin improved to 42.4% from 39.6%, and the quarter recorded a net loss of $20.0 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, with adjusted net loss of $15.6 million, or $0.31 per diluted share.

For the full year, net sales were $2.89 billion, down 3.9%, while gross margin rose to 43.6% from 42.7%. The company posted a net loss of $8.4 million and adjusted net income of $8.3 million, or $0.16 per diluted share. Debt fell to $435.0 million, cash increased to $50.9 million, and inventories declined. The board declared a $0.05 per share dividend. 2026 guidance calls for net sales between down 1% and up 1% and diluted EPS between $0.28 and $0.38.

Designer Brands Inc. executive Mary Turner reported compensation-related equity transactions involving dividend equivalent rights, restricted stock units and Class A common shares. On March 23, 2026, she exercised awards covering 17,197 Class A shares, including RSUs and associated dividend equivalents, at a conversion price of $0.00 per share.

To satisfy tax obligations from these vestings, 9,206 Class A shares were withheld at $5.40 per share, a non-market, tax-withholding disposition rather than an open-market sale. Following these transactions, Turner held 35,309 Class A common shares directly, and dividend equivalent rights representing economic exposure to additional Class A shares.

Designer Brands Inc. Executive Chairman Jay L. Schottenstein reported compensation-related share movements tied to equity awards. On March 23, 2026, he exercised dividend equivalent rights into 20,486 Class A common shares and restricted stock units into 176,058 Class A common shares, for a total of 196,544 shares acquired at a conversion price of $0.00 per share. A separate entry shows 58,823 Class A common shares were withheld at $5.40 per share to cover tax obligations, leaving 1,587,617 Class A common shares held directly after these transactions. The filing also lists substantial indirect holdings, including 1,864,597 Class A common shares held by Jubilee Limited Partnership and 1,273,099 Class A common shares held by Schottenstein Realty LLC.