Insider Form 4: Ford Director Receives 5,416 Dividend-Equivalent RSUs
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
John L. Thornton, a director of Ford Motor Company (F), reported a non-cash crediting of 5,416 Ford Stock Units under the company’s Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors dated 09/02/2025. These units represent dividend equivalents granted as Restricted Stock Units that will be converted and paid in cash after the director leaves board service, based on the market value of Ford common stock at that time. Following the reported grant, the filing shows the reporting person beneficially owns 430,187 shares of Ford common stock on a direct basis. The filing discloses this transaction as an acquisition of dividend-equivalent stock units rather than an open-market purchase, and no cash price was paid by the reporting person.
Positive
- Crediting of 5,416 Ford Stock Units increases the director’s alignment with shareholder value through dividend-equivalent RSUs
- Units settle in cash based on market value, avoiding immediate share issuance or market dilution
Negative
- None.
Insights
TL;DR: Routine director compensation disclosed; increases holdings via credited dividend-equivalent RSUs with deferred cash settlement.
This Form 4 documents a customary, non-cash crediting of dividend-equivalent Restricted Stock Units to a non-employee director under Ford’s deferred compensation arrangements. Such credits are standard for boards to compensate directors without immediate cash or share issuance to the director, and they typically settle in cash based on future stock value after board service ends. The transaction does not indicate an active purchase or sale by the director and is unlikely to change governance dynamics or control. Materiality for investors is low absent larger patterns of insider buying or selling.
TL;DR: Compensation-related grant increased reported beneficial ownership by 5,416 units; settlement is deferred and cash-based.
The reported 5,416 Ford Stock Units are credited as dividend equivalents under the company’s plan for non-employee directors and will convert to a cash payment calculated from Ford’s share price when distributed. This structure aligns director pay with shareholder returns without immediate dilution. For compensation benchmarking, the grant size should be viewed in context of total director pay and existing shareholdings; on its own, the grant is a routine element of non-employee director compensation and does not represent an exercised option or market transaction.