Merck EVP Larson Exercises RSUs, Withholds Shares for Tax
Merck & Co., Inc. executive vice president and Chief HR Officer Betty D. Larson reported routine equity compensation activity over two days.
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Merck & Co., Inc. executive vice president and Chief HR Officer Betty D. Larson reported routine equity compensation activity over two days. She exercised restricted stock units to acquire 13,435 shares of common stock at reference prices of $110.95 and $110.03 per share, and 5,858 shares were disposed of to cover tax obligations through share withholding rather than open-market sales.
Following these transactions, Larson directly owned 13,774 shares of Merck common stock. The filing reflects compensation-related derivative exercises and associated tax-withholding dispositions, without any open-market buying or selling.
Positive
- None.
Negative
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Insider Trade Summary
13,435 shares exercised/converted
Exercise
6 txns
Insider
Larson Betty D
Role
EVP, Chief HR Officer
| Type | Security | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise | Restricted Stock Unit | 11,350 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Exercise | Common Stock | 11,350 | $110.95 | $1.26M |
| Exercise Price or Tax Liability | Common Stock | 5,143 | $110.95 | $571K |
| Exercise | Restricted Stock Unit | 2,085 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Exercise | Common Stock | 2,085 | $110.03 | $229K |
| Exercise Price or Tax Liability | Common Stock | 715 | $110.03 | $79K |
Holdings After Transaction:
Restricted Stock Unit — 15,522 contracts (Direct);
Common Stock — 13,774 shares (Direct)
Footnotes (3)
- F1. Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Merck & Co., Inc. common stock.
- F2. These restricted stock units vest and are distributed as shares of Merck & Co., Inc. common stock in three equal installments on 4/29/2026, 4/29/2027 and 4/29/2028.
- F3. These restricted stock units vest and are distributed as shares of Merck & Co., Inc. common stock in three equal installments on 4/30/2025, 4/30/2026 and 4/30/2027.
Key Figures
RSU shares exercised: 13,435 shares
Shares withheld for taxes: 5,858 shares
Price reference 1: $110.95 per share
+4 more
7 metrics
RSU shares exercised
13,435 shares
Total derivative exercises reported for Merck common stock
Shares withheld for taxes
5,858 shares
Tax-withholding dispositions on Merck common stock
Price reference 1
$110.95 per share
Common stock transactions on 2026-04-30
Price reference 2
$110.03 per share
Common stock transactions on 2026-04-29
Direct holdings after transactions
18,917 shares
Common stock directly owned by Betty D. Larson
Tax-withholding transaction count
2 transactions
Code F dispositions for tax liabilities
Derivative exercises count
2 transactions
Code M exercises of restricted stock units
Key Terms
Restricted Stock Unit, tax-withholding disposition, derivative exercise/conversion
3 terms
Restricted Stock Unit financial
"The filing reports transactions involving “Restricted Stock Unit” awards converting into common stock."
A restricted stock unit is a promise from a company to give an employee shares of stock after certain conditions are met, like staying with the company for a set amount of time. It’s like earning a bonus that turns into company stock once you’ve proven your commitment, making it a way to motivate and reward employees.
tax-withholding disposition financial
"Some transactions are described as a “tax-withholding disposition” to satisfy tax liabilities."
A tax-withholding disposition is an event or transaction—such as selling or transferring securities, exercising options, or receiving compensation—that triggers a requirement to hold back part of the payment and remit it to tax authorities. It matters to investors because it reduces the cash they receive immediately and can change the timing and amount of taxable income, like a cashier taking a portion of your sale proceeds to pay taxes before you get the rest.
derivative exercise/conversion financial
"The Form 4 labels certain entries as “derivative exercise/conversion” of equity awards."
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
What insider transactions did Merck (MRK) executive Betty D. Larson report?
Betty D. Larson reported exercising restricted stock units into Merck common shares and related tax-withholding dispositions. She acquired 13,435 shares through derivative exercises, while 5,858 shares were surrendered to cover tax liabilities, indicating compensation-driven activity rather than open-market trading.
What prices were used in Betty D. Larson’s Merck (MRK) Form 4 transactions?
The Form 4 lists transaction prices of $110.95 and $110.03 per share for Merck common stock. These prices are reference amounts tied to the derivative exercises and tax-withholding dispositions, rather than traditional open-market purchase or sale prices.
What do the restricted stock unit exercises mean for Merck (MRK) executive compensation?
The reported restricted stock unit exercises reflect equity compensation vesting for Betty D. Larson. She converted 13,435 restricted stock units into common shares, with part of the shares withheld for taxes, illustrating how Merck delivers a portion of executive pay in stock-based awards.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
