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First Merchants Corp (FRME) grants 16,000 shares to president

(Very High)
(Neutral)
Form Type
4

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

FIRST MERCHANTS CORP President Michael J. Stewart reported a grant of 16,000 shares of common stock on August 3, 2026 at $43.63 per share. On August 2, 2026, 6,059 shares were withheld at $43.14 per share to satisfy exercise price or tax liability. He also reports indirect holdings of 7,234.836 shares in a 401(k) plan, and his holdings include Restricted Stock Awards totaling 49,816.477 shares.

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Insider Stewart Michael J
Role President
Type Security Shares Price Value
Grant/Award Common Stock F1 16,000 $43.63 $698K
Exercise Price or Tax Liability Common Stock 6,059 $43.14 $261K
holding Common Stock -- -- --
Holdings After Transaction: Common Stock — 115,833.864 shares (Direct); Common Stock — 7,234.836 shares (Indirect, 401(k) Plan)
Footnotes (1)
  1. F1. Includes Restricted Stock Awards totaling 49,816.477 shares
Common stock grant 16,000 shares Grant/award acquisition of common stock on August 3, 2026 at $43.6300 per share
Shares withheld for tax/exercise 6,059 shares Code F withholding on August 2, 2026 at $43.1400 per share to satisfy exercise price or tax liability
Indirect 401(k) holdings 7,234.836 shares Indirect common stock holdings reported through a 401(k) Plan
Restricted Stock Awards included 49,816.477 shares Restricted Stock Awards included in reported holdings per footnote F1
Restricted Stock Awards financial
"Includes Restricted Stock Awards totaling 49,816.477 shares"
Restricted stock awards are company shares given to employees or executives that cannot be sold or transferred until certain conditions — like staying with the company for a set time or meeting performance targets — are met, like a gift that is locked in a safe until rules are satisfied. Investors care because these awards tie management’s pay to company performance, can increase the number of shares outstanding when they become tradable (dilution), and may signal expected future selling pressure or commitment to long-term growth.
401(k) Plan financial
"Indirect ownership reported through a 401(k) Plan"
A 401(k) plan is a workplace retirement account that lets employees set aside part of their pay into a tax-advantaged savings pot, often with employers adding matching contributions — like a workplace piggy bank for future income. It matters to investors because the amount people save and how employers fund these plans influence consumer spending, corporate payroll costs and the flow of money into financial markets, which can affect stock prices and company valuations.
tax liability financial
"Payment of exercise price or tax liability by delivering or withholding securities"
exercise price financial
"Payment of exercise price or tax liability by delivering or withholding securities"
The exercise price is the fixed amount at which you can buy or sell an asset, like a stock, when using an options contract. It matters because it helps determine whether exercising the option will be profitable or not, depending on the current market price. Think of it as the set price you agree on today to buy or sell later.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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FAQ

What insider transactions did FIRST MERCHANTS CORP (FRME) report for Michael J. Stewart?

Michael J. Stewart reported a grant of 16,000 FRME common shares at $43.63 on August 3, 2026, and a withholding of 6,059 shares at $43.14 on August 2, 2026 to cover exercise price or tax liability.

How large was Michael J. Stewart’s stock grant in the latest FRME Form 4?

He received a grant of 16,000 shares of FRME common stock at a value of $43.63 per share. The transaction is coded as a grant or award acquisition, reflecting compensation rather than an open-market purchase.

Why were 6,059 FRME shares disposed of under transaction code F?

The 6,059 FRME shares were reported under code F, described as payment of exercise price or tax liability by delivering or withholding securities. This indicates shares were withheld to satisfy obligations, not sold in an open-market transaction.

What indirect FRME holdings does Michael J. Stewart report?

He reports 7,234.836 FRME shares held indirectly through a 401(k) Plan. In addition, a footnote states his holdings include Restricted Stock Awards totaling 49,816.477 shares, providing context on stock-based compensation he holds.

Were Michael J. Stewart’s FRME transactions made under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan?

The filing’s Rule 10b5-1 checkbox is not marked (aff_10b5_one is false), so there is no indication these transactions were executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan based on the reported data.

What is the overall direction of Michael J. Stewart’s FRME share activity in this filing?

Activity is mixed, with a grant of 16,000 shares and a withholding of 6,059 shares for exercise price or tax liability. The filing also shows ongoing indirect and restricted stock holdings, indicating both acquisitions and non-market dispositions.
SEC Form 4
FORM 4UNITED 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*
Stewart Michael J

(Last)(First)(Middle)
200 E JACKSON STREET

(Street)
MUNCIE INDIANA 47305

(City)(State)(Zip)

UNITED STATES

(Country)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
FIRST MERCHANTS CORP [ FRME ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
Director10% Owner
XOfficer (give title below)Other (specify below)
President
2a. Foreign Trading Symbol
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
08/02/2026
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
XForm 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)
CodeVAmount(A) or (D)Price
Common Stock08/02/2026F6,059D$43.1499,833.864D
Common Stock08/03/2026A16,000A$43.63115,833.864(1)D
Common Stock7,234.836I401(k) Plan
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)
CodeV(A)(D)Date ExercisableExpiration DateTitleAmount or Number of Shares
Explanation of Responses:
1. Includes Restricted Stock Awards totaling 49,816.477 shares
Remarks:
Paul Cento (Confirming Statement on File)08/04/2026
** Signature of Reporting PersonDate
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)