NHC (NHC): Director exercises 3,140 options and holds 43,302 shares

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

National Healthcare Corp director James Paul Abernathy exercised stock options and increased his direct shareholdings. He exercised options covering 3,140 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $55.75 per share, receiving 3,140 common shares. Following the transaction, he directly owns 43,302 common shares.

The exercised options were part of a 2023 grant under the 2020 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan and are exempt from Section 16(b) under Rule 16b-3(d). Abernathy still holds two additional option grants, each linked to 7,500 underlying common shares, with exercise prices of $96.03 and $94.66 per share and expirations in 2029 and 2030.

Insights

Equity compensation analyst

Director exercised 3,140 options, added shares, no sales reported.

Director James Paul Abernathy exercised options for 3,140 shares of National Healthcare Corp common stock at an exercise price of $55.75 per share. This is a compensation-related derivative exercise under the company’s 2020 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan.

No open-market sales or gifts are reported, so the filing reflects an exercise-and-hold pattern rather than profit-taking. After the transaction, Abernathy directly owns 43,302 common shares and retains two additional option grants, each linked to 7,500 underlying shares.

The remaining option awards carry exercise prices of $96.03 and $94.66 and expire in 2029 and 2030. Future filings may show how and when these options are exercised, but this event alone appears routine within ongoing equity-based compensation.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED 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
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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^*

ABERNATHY JAMES PAUL

(Last) (First) (Middle)

1523 MIRABELLA WAY

(Street)

MURFREESBORO TN 37130

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORP [ NHC ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director		10% Owner
	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/09/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

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)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Shares of Common Stock	03/09/2026		M		3,140(1)	A	$55.75	43,302	D

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)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Option to Purchase Common Stock [2023 Grant]	$55.75	03/09/2026		M			3,140(1)	05/04/2024	05/03/2028	Common Stock	7,500	$0	4,360	D
Option to Purchase Common Stock [2024 Grant]	$96.03							05/09/2025	05/08/2029	Common Stock	7,500		7,500	D
Option to Purchase Common Stock [2025 Grant]	$94.66							05/08/2026	05/07/2030	Common Stock	7,500		7,500	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. These stock options were granted pursant to the 2020 Obmnibus Equity Incentive Plan on May 4, 2023. The grant and exercise of these stock options are exempt from Section 16(b) pursuant to Rule 16b-3(d).

	/s/ J. Paul Abernathy	03/10/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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FAQ

What did NHC director James Paul Abernathy do in this Form 4 filing?

James Paul Abernathy exercised stock options for 3,140 shares of National Healthcare Corp common stock. The options had an exercise price of $55.75 per share, and he now directly holds 43,302 common shares after the transaction.

Were any National Healthcare Corp (NHC) shares sold in this Form 4?

No sales were reported. The filing shows an option exercise that converted 3,140 options into 3,140 common shares. The transaction is classified as a derivative exercise, with no open-market sale or gift dispositions disclosed in this report.

How many National Healthcare Corp shares does the director own after the transaction?

After exercising options, director James Paul Abernathy directly owns 43,302 shares of National Healthcare Corp common stock. This figure represents his reported direct holdings following the 3,140-share option exercise described in the Form 4 filing.

What were the terms of the exercised National Healthcare Corp stock options?

The exercised options related to a 2023 grant under the 2020 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, covering 3,140 shares at an exercise price of $55.75. The filing notes the grant and exercise are exempt from Section 16(b) under Rule 16b-3(d).

What option awards does the NHC director still hold after this filing?

The director retains two option grants, each tied to 7,500 underlying National Healthcare Corp common shares. These remaining options have exercise prices of $96.03 and $94.66 per share and expire in 2029 and 2030, according to the derivative holdings summary.

Is this National Healthcare Corp Form 4 transaction part of a compensation plan?

Yes. The footnote explains the exercised stock options were granted pursuant to National Healthcare Corp’s 2020 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan. Such plan-based grants and exercises are typical components of director and executive equity compensation at public companies.