[Form 4] PENN Entertainment, Inc. Insider Trading Activity
Johnny Hartnett, a director of PENN Entertainment, received 14,775 phantom stock units as his 2025 annual director equity award, granted on 08/08/2025. These units are cash-settled: each unit entitles the holder to a cash payment equal to the fair market value of one share on the vesting date. The units are listed as exercisable/vesting on 08/08/2026 and are reported as directly beneficially owned following the award. The reporting form indicates the director elected to receive the award in phantom stock units rather than actual shares, creating a future cash obligation tied to the company’s share price at vesting.
- 14,775 phantom stock units align the director’s compensation with shareholder value by tying payout to the company’s share price at vesting
- Award is cash-settled, so it does not increase outstanding share count or dilute existing equity at grant
- Creates a future cash obligation equal to the fair market value of one share per unit on the vesting date, which could require cash outflow at vesting
Insights
TL;DR: Director received 14,775 cash-settled phantom units vesting 08/08/2026; routine compensation with limited market impact.
The reported grant of 14,775 phantom stock units to a director is a standard form of non-dilutive director compensation designed to align interests with shareholders without issuing shares today. Because the award is cash-settled at fair market value on vesting, it creates a future cash payout tied to the share price rather than an immediate increase in share count. From a financial perspective, this is a predictable compensation expense and not an equity issuance; its materiality depends on the company’s cash position and the share price at vesting, neither of which are disclosed here.
TL;DR: Election to receive the 2025 director award as phantom units indicates retention and alignment, recorded as direct beneficial ownership.
The filing shows the director elected cash-settled phantom units for his annual equity award, a governance choice that maintains alignment with shareholder value while avoiding immediate dilution. The filing also documents direct beneficial ownership of the derivative units and specifies vesting/exercise information (08/08/2026). This is a routine disclosure under Section 16 reporting requirements and reflects standard director compensation practices rather than a change in control, governance structure, or insider disposition.