ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW) CEO exercises RSUs; shares withheld for taxes
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
4
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
ServiceNow Chairman & CEO William R. McDermott reported routine equity compensation activity involving restricted stock units that vested into common shares. On May 15, 2026 he exercised RSUs into 19,306 shares, while 10,378 shares were relinquished to cover federal and state tax withholding obligations under Rule 16b-3. Following these transactions he held 171,215 shares directly and 24,405 shares indirectly through a trust, with no open-market purchases or sales reported.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Insider Trade Summary
19,306 shares exercised/converted
Mixed
10 txns
Insider
McDermott William R
Role
Chairman & CEO
| Type | Security | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise | Restricted Stock Units | 4,160 | $0.00 | -- |
| Exercise | Restricted Stock Units | 6,270 | $0.00 | -- |
| Exercise | Restricted Stock Units | 8,876 | $0.00 | -- |
| Exercise | Common Stock | 4,160 | $0.00 | -- |
| Tax Withholding | Common Stock | 2,236 | $95.07 | $213K |
| Exercise | Common Stock | 6,270 | $0.00 | -- |
| Tax Withholding | Common Stock | 3,371 | $95.07 | $320K |
| Exercise | Common Stock | 8,876 | $0.00 | -- |
| Tax Withholding | Common Stock | 4,771 | $95.07 | $454K |
| holding | Common Stock | -- | -- | -- |
Holdings After Transaction:
Restricted Stock Units — 12,480 shares (Direct, null);
Common Stock — 166,447 shares (Direct, null);
Common Stock — 24,405 shares (Indirect, by Trust)
Footnotes (1)
- Represents shares relinquished by the Reporting Person in exchange for the Issuer's payment of federal and state tax withholding obligations of the Reporting Person resulting from the vesting of RSUs, in accordance with Rule 16b-3. Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Issuer's common stock. The restricted stock units vest as to 1/16th of the total shares quarterly, with the first vesting having occurred on May 17, 2023, and subject to the Reporting Person's continued service to the Issuer on each vesting date. The restricted stock units vest as to 1/12th of the total shares quarterly, with the first vesting having occurred on May 15, 2025, and subject to the Reporting Person's continued service to the Issuer on each vesting date. The restricted stock units vest in 12 equal quarterly installments, with the first vesting having occurred on May 15, 2026, and subject to the reporting person's continued service to the Issuer on each vesting date.
Key Figures
RSU exercises into common stock: 19,306 shares
Shares relinquished for tax withholding: 10,378 shares
Tax withholding share value: $95.07 per share
+5 more
8 metrics
RSU exercises into common stock
19,306 shares
Common stock acquired from vested restricted stock units on May 15, 2026
Shares relinquished for tax withholding
10,378 shares
Shares returned to issuer to satisfy tax obligations on RSU vesting
Tax withholding share value
$95.07 per share
Reported value for shares used to cover tax liabilities
Direct common stock holdings after transactions
171,215 shares
Common stock directly owned by McDermott following Form 4 transactions
Indirect holdings via trust
24,405 shares
Common stock held indirectly by trust after reported activity
RSU derivative exercises
19,306 shares
Total RSU shares exercised (exerciseShares in transaction summary)
Tax-withholding transactions count
3 transactions
Form 4 entries coded F for tax-liability payments in shares
Derivative exercises count
3 transactions
Form 4 entries coded M for RSU-to-share conversions
Key Terms
Restricted Stock Units, Rule 16b-3, contingent right, tax withholding obligations, +1 more
5 terms
Restricted Stock Units financial
"Represents shares relinquished by the Reporting Person in exchange for the Issuer's payment of federal and state tax withholding obligations of the Reporting Person resulting from the vesting of RSUs"
Restricted stock units are a type of company reward where employees are promised shares of stock, but they only fully own these shares after meeting certain conditions, like staying with the company for a set time. They matter because they can become valuable assets and are often used to motivate employees to help the company succeed.
Rule 16b-3 regulatory
"shares relinquished by the Reporting Person in exchange for the Issuer's payment of federal and state tax withholding obligations ... in accordance with Rule 16b-3"
Rule 16b-3 is a Securities and Exchange Commission regulation that exempts certain routine, pre-approved transactions by company insiders from automatic liability for short-term trading profits. It acts like a safe harbor: if an insider follows a formal plan or the board approves specific transactions in advance, profits from buying and selling company stock within six months are not automatically reclaimed. Investors care because the rule clarifies when insider trades are permissible and reduces uncertainty about potential clawbacks.
contingent right financial
"Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Issuer's common stock."
tax withholding obligations financial
"Issuer's payment of federal and state tax withholding obligations of the Reporting Person resulting from the vesting of RSUs"
vest in 12 equal quarterly installments financial
"The restricted stock units vest in 12 equal quarterly installments, with the first vesting having occurred on May 15, 2026"
FAQ
What insider transactions did ServiceNow (NOW) CEO William R. McDermott report?
William R. McDermott reported routine equity compensation activity. Restricted stock units vested into common shares, and a portion of those shares was surrendered to ServiceNow to cover federal and state tax withholding obligations, rather than being sold in the open market.
What are restricted stock units (RSUs) in the context of ServiceNow (NOW) CEO compensation?
For McDermott, each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of ServiceNow common stock. The RSUs vest in scheduled quarterly installments, subject to his continued service with the company, gradually converting into directly owned shares over time.