Palo Alto Networks Insider: 1,528 Shares Withheld; 700 Sold Under 10b5-1
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Josh D. Paul, Chief Accounting Officer of Palo Alto Networks Inc. (PANW), reported two transactions dated 08/21/2025. The company withheld 1,528 shares to satisfy tax withholding related to vesting and net settlement of previously reported restricted stock units; this withholding is explicitly not a sale and occurred at a per-share value of $184.43. Separately, Mr. Paul sold 700 shares at $184.20 pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted on October 1, 2024. After these transactions, the reporting person beneficially owned 37,723 shares. The Form 4 was signed by an attorney-in-fact on 08/22/2025.
Positive
- Use of a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan (adopted 10/01/2024) indicates preplanned, compliant disposition of shares
- Withheld 1,528 shares to satisfy tax obligations on RSU vesting (administrative, not a sale)
- Form 4 was executed and filed promptly and signed by an attorney-in-fact, indicating procedural compliance
Negative
- None.
Insights
TL;DR Routine insider tax withholding and a preplanned 10b5-1 sale; not clearly material to PANW's business performance.
The transactions consist of 1,528 shares withheld to satisfy tax obligations from RSU vesting and a 700-share sale executed under a Rule 10b5-1 plan at ~$184.20 per share. Withholding for taxes on vesting is administrative and does not represent a market disposition by choice. The 10b5-1 sale was pre-established on 10/01/2024, indicating the sale followed a contractual plan rather than an opportunistic insider trade. Given the relatively small share counts compared to a large-cap issuer, the disclosures are routine and likely neutral for investors.
TL;DR Disclosure aligns with governance best practices: tax withholding and a documented 10b5-1 plan reduce regulatory and disclosure risk.
The Form 4 discloses that the withheld shares were used to satisfy tax withholding on vested RSUs and that the sale was executed under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted on 10/01/2024. Use of a 10b5-1 plan is a recognized mechanism to mitigate claims of opportunistic insider trading and supports transparency. The filing was timely and signed by an attorney-in-fact, reflecting procedural compliance. These actions suggest adherence to insider trading controls rather than governance concerns.