DUOL Form 4: Co-founder sells shares under 10b5-1 plan, large trust holding remains
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Severin Hacker, Co-Founder and Chief Tech Officer of Duolingo (DUOL), reported multiple transactions on 08/19/2025. He acquired a stock option for 10,000 shares with a $38.08 exercise price and exercised or acquired 10,000 shares of Class B common stock. Simultaneously he sold a series of Class A shares under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, disposing of 10,000 then multiple blocks totaling 8,928 shares at weighted-average prices ranging roughly from $338.49 to $363.05. After these transactions he directly owns 72 Class A shares and indirectly holds 2,896,917 Class A shares through the SBH Trust, where he is trustee.
Positive
- Retains a material indirect stake of 2,896,917 Class A shares via SBH Trust, indicating continued substantial economic interest.
- Option activity recorded: acquisition/exercise of a 10,000-share option at a $38.08 exercise price (fully vested).
- Sales executed under a documented 10b5-1 trading plan adopted September 11, 2024, showing preplanned compliance with insider trading rules.
Negative
- Significant insider sales of Class A shares totaling 18,928 shares reported on 08/19/2025, which reduced direct holdings to 72 shares.
- Concentration of direct ownership reduced to a nominal direct stake, shifting voting/economic interest to an indirect trust position.
Insights
TL;DR: Significant scheduled insider selling occurred alongside option activity, while a large indirect stake remains concentrated in a trust.
The reported sales were executed pursuant to a 10b5-1 plan dated September 11, 2024, indicating preplanned dispositions rather than ad hoc sales. The filing shows a 10,000-share option transaction with a $38.08 strike and multiple weighted-average sales of Class A shares at prices roughly between $338 and $363. Post-transaction direct ownership is minimal (72 shares) while indirect ownership via SBH Trust remains 2,896,917 shares, reflecting continued material economic interest and control. For investors, the mix of option exercise/acquisition, systematic sales under a plan, and retained indirect holdings are the key takeaways.
TL;DR: Director/officer followed a Rule 10b5-1 plan; ownership structure still concentrated in trust control.
The Form 4 documents compliant use of a 10b5-1 trading plan for multiple sales and records an option-related acquisition and Class B to Class A share reporting. The disclosure that Class B shares convert to Class A and that shares are held in SBH Trust (with Hacker as trustee) underscores governance continuity and ongoing indirect control despite significant sales. The filing is detailed on sale price ranges and offers transparency on execution through weighted-average prices and broker reporting commitments.
Insider Trade Summary
| Type | Security | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise | Stock Option (Right to Buy) | 10,000 | $0.00 | -- |
| Conversion | Class B Common Stock | 10,000 | $0.00 | -- |
| Conversion | Class B Common Stock | 10,000 | $0.00 | -- |
| Conversion | Class A Common Stock | 10,000 | $38.08 | $381K |
| Sale | Class A Common Stock | 1,003 | $339.148 | $340K |
| Sale | Class A Common Stock | 1,700 | $340.0274 | $578K |
| Sale | Class A Common Stock | 1,979 | $340.9173 | $675K |
| Sale | Class A Common Stock | 1,318 | $341.9974 | $451K |
| Sale | Class A Common Stock | 300 | $343.82 | $103K |
| Sale | Class A Common Stock | 300 | $345.02 | $104K |
| Sale | Class A Common Stock | 600 | $346.145 | $208K |
| Sale | Class A Common Stock | 500 | $347.4803 | $174K |
| Sale | Class A Common Stock | 400 | $348.825 | $140K |
| Sale | Class A Common Stock | 100 | $349.28 | $35K |
| Sale | Class A Common Stock | 400 | $351.29 | $141K |
| Sale | Class A Common Stock | 200 | $352.40 | $70K |
| Sale | Class A Common Stock | 300 | $354.0767 | $106K |
| Sale | Class A Common Stock | 400 | $354.885 | $142K |
| Sale | Class A Common Stock | 100 | $357.67 | $36K |
| Sale | Class A Common Stock | 200 | $359.30 | $72K |
| Sale | Class A Common Stock | 200 | $363.05 | $73K |
| holding | Class B Common Stock | -- | -- | -- |
Footnotes (1)
- The sale was effected pursuant to the Reporting Person's Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted on September 11, 2024. The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average sale price calculated by the broker executing the sales. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $338.49 to $339.44, inclusive. The Reporting Person hereby undertakes to provide to the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each respective price within the range set forth in this footnote. The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average sale price calculated by the broker executing the sales. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $339.49 to $340.46, inclusive. The Reporting Person hereby undertakes to provide to the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each respective price within the range set forth in this footnote. The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average sale price calculated by the broker executing the sales. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $340.50 to $341.37, inclusive. The Reporting Person hereby undertakes to provide to the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each respective price within the range set forth in this footnote. The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average sale price calculated by the broker executing the sales. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $341.59 to $342.42, inclusive. The Reporting Person hereby undertakes to provide to the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each respective price within the range set forth in this footnote. The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average sale price calculated by the broker executing the sales. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $343.19 to $344.16, inclusive. The Reporting Person hereby undertakes to provide to the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each respective price within the range set forth in this footnote. The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average sale price calculated by the broker executing the sales. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $344.68 to $345.19, inclusive. The Reporting Person hereby undertakes to provide to the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each respective price within the range set forth in this footnote. The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average sale price calculated by the broker executing the sales. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $345.85 to $346.53, inclusive. The Reporting Person hereby undertakes to provide to the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each respective price within the range set forth in this footnote. The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average sale price calculated by the broker executing the sales. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $347.07 to $347.91, inclusive. The Reporting Person hereby undertakes to provide to the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each respective price within the range set forth in this footnote. The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average sale price calculated by the broker executing the sales. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from 348.22 to $349.21, inclusive. The Reporting Person hereby undertakes to provide to the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each respective price within the range set forth in this footnote. The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average sale price calculated by the broker executing the sales. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $351.04 to $351.48, inclusive. The Reporting Person hereby undertakes to provide to the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each respective price within the range set forth in this footnote. The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average sale price calculated by the broker executing the sales. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $352.20 to $352.60, inclusive. The Reporting Person hereby undertakes to provide to the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each respective price within the range set forth in this footnote. The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average sale price calculated by the broker executing the sales. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $353.61 to $354.52, inclusive. The Reporting Person hereby undertakes to provide to the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each respective price within the range set forth in this footnote. The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average sale price calculated by the broker executing the sales. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $354.66 to $355.42, inclusive. The Reporting Person hereby undertakes to provide to the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each respective price within the range set forth in this footnote. The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average sale price calculated by the broker executing the sales. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $358.83 to $359.77, inclusive. The Reporting Person hereby undertakes to provide to the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each respective price within the range set forth in this footnote. The shares subject to the option are fully vested and exercisable. Each share of Class B Common Stock is convertible at any time at the option of the Reporting Person into one share of Class A Common Stock and has no expiration date. Each share of Class B Common Stock will convert automatically into one share of Class A Common Stock in connection with: (i) any transfer, whether or not for value, except for certain permitted transfers further described in the Issuer's amended and restated certificate of incorporation, (ii) such time as the aggregate number of shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding ceases to represent 5% of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, and (iii) the death of the Reporting Person. Shares held by SBH Trust dated March 10, 2020, of which Reporting Person is Trustee.