Qualys Form 4: Thakar Exercises 6,500 Options and Executes 10b5-1 Sales
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Insider transactions at Qualys, Inc. (QLYS) show the company's CEO and President, Sumedh S. Thakar, exercised options and sold shares on 09/15/2025 under a previously adopted trading plan. He exercised a fully vested option with a $25.56 exercise price to acquire 6,500 shares, and sold 8,500 shares in two transactions (5,801 shares at a weighted average of $132.2225 and 2,699 shares at a weighted average of $133.0718). After these transactions Thakar reported beneficial ownership of 205,951 shares. The sale transactions were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan adopted February 26, 2025, and the reported holdings include 31 shares acquired through the employee stock purchase plan.
Positive
- Exercise of fully vested options (6,500 shares at $25.56) demonstrates management converting long-term incentive into ownership.
- Use of a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan (adopted Feb 26, 2025) indicates pre-planned, compliant insider sales rather than opportunistic trades.
- Substantial retained ownership: reporting 205,951 shares after transactions shows continued significant insider stake.
Negative
- Insider sales of 8,500 shares at weighted averages near $132–133 represent meaningful insider liquidity that some investors may view unfavorably.
- Weighted-average sale prices reported as ranges require Commission staff follow-up for per-price share counts, reducing immediate price granularity.
Insights
TL;DR: CEO exercised low-cost options and sold shares under a 10b5-1 plan, converting option value to cash while retaining substantial holdings.
Thakar exercised 6,500 options with a $25.56 strike, creating immediate intrinsic value given the reported sale prices near $132–133. The simultaneous sales of 8,500 shares were executed under a Rule 10b5-1 plan, indicating pre-planned disposition rather than opportunistic insider trading. Net beneficial ownership remains significant at 205,951 shares, suggesting continued alignment with shareholders. For investors, this pattern is routine monetization by management rather than a clear signal of deteriorating fundamentals.
TL;DR: Transactions comply with governance best practices by using a 10b5-1 plan and include full disclosure of option exercise and weighted-average sale prices.
The Form 4 discloses that sales were conducted pursuant to a 10b5-1 plan adopted February 26, 2025, and provides weighted-average prices for the two sale ranges, with the option fully vested and exercisable. The filing includes routine explanatory notes and a power-of-attorney signature, reflecting standard governance procedures for insider reporting. No indication of unusual or undisclosed arrangements is present in the document.