Data Storage Corp (DTST) CEO awarded 250,000 options and 60,000 RSUs

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Data Storage Corp reported that Chairman and CEO Charles M. Piluso received new equity awards on February 13, 2026. He was granted stock options for 250,000 shares, which vest in three equal parts on May 20, 2027, May 20, 2028, and May 20, 2029, with an exercise price set at 110% of the closing share price on the grant date. He also received a restricted stock unit award covering 60,000 shares of common stock, vesting one-third on each of May 20, 2027, May 20, 2028, and May 20, 2029; these units convert into common stock on a one-for-one basis as they vest.

Insider Trade Summary

2 transactions reported

Mixed 2 txns

Insider Piluso Charles M.

Role Chairman and CEO

Type	Security	Shares	Price	Value
Grant/Award	Stock Options	250,000	$0.00	--
Grant/Award	Common Stock	60,000	$0.00	--

Holdings After Transaction: Stock Options — 250,000 shares (Direct); Common Stock — 310,032 shares (Direct)

Footnotes (1)

1. Represents the shares of the Issuer's common stock underlying a grant of a restricted stock unit ("RSU") to the Reporting Person on February 13, 2026, which will vest one-third on each of May 20, 2027, May 20, 2028, and May 20, 2029. RSUs convert into common stock on a one-for-one basis. These options ("Options") will vest and become exercisable one-third on each of May 20, 2027, May 20, 2028, and May 20, 2029. The exercise price of these Options is equal to 110% of the closing price of the Issuer's common stock as of the date of grant.

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^*

Piluso Charles M.

(Last) (First) (Middle)

C/O DATA STORAGE CORP

244 5TH AVENUE, SUITE 2821

(Street)

NEW YORK NY 10001

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Data Storage Corp [ DTST ]

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

X	Director	X	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	Chairman and CEO

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/13/2026

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

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

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

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
Common Stock	02/13/2026		A		60,000(1)	A	$0	310,032	D

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 Options	$4.84	02/13/2026		A		250,000(2)		05/20/2027	02/12/2031	Common Stock	250,000	$0	250,000	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Represents the shares of the Issuer's common stock underlying a grant of a restricted stock unit ("RSU") to the Reporting Person on February 13, 2026, which will vest one-third on each of May 20, 2027, May 20, 2028, and May 20, 2029. RSUs convert into common stock on a one-for-one basis.

2. These options ("Options") will vest and become exercisable one-third on each of May 20, 2027, May 20, 2028, and May 20, 2029. The exercise price of these Options is equal to 110% of the closing price of the Issuer's common stock as of the date of grant.

	/s/ Wendy Schmittzeh, Attorney-in-fact	02/18/2026
	** 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.

FAQ

What did DTST Chairman and CEO Charles Piluso receive in this Form 4 filing?

Charles Piluso received a grant of 250,000 stock options and restricted stock units for 60,000 shares of Data Storage Corp common stock, both awarded on February 13, 2026, as part of his equity compensation.

How do the new Data Storage Corp (DTST) stock options for Charles Piluso vest?

The 250,000 stock options vest in three equal installments on May 20, 2027, May 20, 2028, and May 20, 2029. Once vested, they become exercisable at an exercise price set at 110% of the grant-date closing price.

What are the terms of the DTST restricted stock units granted to Charles Piluso?

The restricted stock units cover 60,000 shares of common stock and vest one-third on May 20, 2027, one-third on May 20, 2028, and one-third on May 20, 2029. Each RSU converts into one share of common stock upon vesting.

Was Charles Piluso buying or selling DTST shares in this Form 4?

The Form 4 reports equity awards, not open-market buying or selling. Transactions are coded as acquisitions (grants) of stock options and restricted stock units, with no reported sales or purchases in the market.

What is the exercise price structure of Charles Piluso’s new DTST stock options?

The newly granted options have an exercise price equal to 110% of the closing price of Data Storage Corp common stock on the February 13, 2026 grant date, aligning the option value with the company’s share price at that time.

How many DTST shares does Charles Piluso hold after the reported Form 4 transactions?

After the reported awards, Charles Piluso directly holds 250,000 stock options and 310,032 shares of common stock, reflecting the addition of the 60,000-share restricted stock unit grant to his existing common share holdings.