[Form 4] Lincoln National Corp. Insider Trading Activity
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Lincoln National Corp. (LNC) insider Brian Kroll reported option exercise and related sales on 08/15/2025. Mr. Kroll exercised employee stock options to acquire 6,780 shares at an exercise price of $35.50 per share. Following the exercise and dividend reinvestment, he beneficially owned 56,118.12 shares. To cover the exercise cost and tax obligations, he sold 6,362 shares in multiple transactions at a weighted average price of $40.87 (individual sales ranged $40.87–$40.88). The reported filing was signed on 08/19/2025 by an attorney-in-fact.
Positive
- Exercise of vested options resulted in acquisition of 6,780 shares at $35.50, demonstrating retention of equity by the executive
- Post-transaction beneficial ownership remains substantial at 56,118.12 shares, indicating continued alignment with shareholders
Negative
- Sale of 6,362 shares in a sell-to-cover reduced the newly acquired position, though this was to satisfy exercise costs and taxes
- Weighted average sale price reported at $40.87, with sales occurring over a narrow price range, reducing potential economic upside on remaining shares
Insights
TL;DR: Insider exercised options and sold shares to cover costs; net ownership remains substantial and transaction is routine.
The filing shows a standard employee stock option exercise by an executive who then executed a sell-to-cover to satisfy the exercise price and tax withholding. The acquisition of 6,780 shares at $35.50 and sale of 6,362 shares at an average $40.87 are economically consistent with routine compensation-related activity. The post-transaction beneficial ownership of 56,118.12 shares remains material for disclosure but the transactions do not, by themselves, indicate a change in company control or strategy.
TL;DR: This is a standard Section 16 disclosure reflecting option vesting and sell-to-cover mechanics; no governance red flags apparent.
The report documents the exercise of vested options granted earlier and a contemporaneous sale to cover costs and taxes. Footnotes clarify dividend reinvestment (594.92 shares) and that sales occurred across prices $40.87–$40.88. The presence of an attorney-in-fact signature is acceptable for timely filing. There are no indications of atypical trading patterns or undisclosed related-party transfers in the form.