Stepan (NYSE: SCL) director exercises 34,741 stock options, holds shares

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Stepan Company director F. Quinn Stepan Jr. reported exercising 34,741 employee stock options on January 13, 2026 at an exercise price of $43.85 per share. The options converted into the same number of Stepan common shares in an exercise-and-hold transaction, leaving him with 160,960.262 common shares held directly.

In addition to these directly held shares, the filing lists various indirect holdings of Stepan common stock through entities such as a family LLC, several family trusts, an ESOP trust, and accounts associated with his spouse and other family members. For certain of these positions, he disclaims beneficial ownership except to the extent of any pecuniary interest, and some shares are held in estates or plans where he serves in an administrative role.

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

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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^*

STEPAN F QUINN JR

(Last) (First) (Middle)

1101 SKOKIE BOULEVARD, SUITE 500

(Street)

NORTHBROOK IL 60062

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
STEPAN CO [ SCL ]

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)
01/13/2026

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
Common Stock	01/13/2026		M		34,741(1)	A	$43.85	160,960.262	D
Common Stock								159,423	D(2)
Common Stock								0.002	I	By Esop II Trust
Common Stock								160,000	I	By Family LLC(3)
Common Stock								0	I	By Family Trust(3)
Common Stock								2,448	I	By Family Trust III
Common Stock								87,500	I	By Family Trust IV(3)
Common Stock								100	I	By Father
Common Stock								1,017	I	By Spouse
Common Stock								0	I	Member Of Plan Committee Of Stepan Company
Common Stock								67.214	I	By Father's ESOP(4)
Common Stock								19,052	I	By Family Trust V
Common Stock								0	I	By Mother's Estate(4)
Common Stock								600	I	By Family Trust VI(4)

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
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$43.85	01/13/2026		M			34,741	02/23/2018	02/22/2026	Common Stock	34,741	$0	0	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Represents shares received pursuant to an exercise and hold option transaction.

2. Joint Tenancy with Spouse.

3. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities, except to extent of any pecuniary interest in the shares.

4. Shares held by an estate of which the reporting person serves as executor.

	/s/ James A. Hart, attorney-in-Fact for F. Quinn Stepan, Jr.	01/15/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.

FAQ

What insider transaction did Stepan (SCL) report for F. Quinn Stepan Jr.?

The Form 4 shows that director F. Quinn Stepan Jr. exercised 34,741 employee stock options for Stepan common stock on January 13, 2026, receiving the same number of shares.

At what price were the Stepan (SCL) options exercised by the director?

The employee stock options were exercised at a price of $43.85 per share, converting into 34,741 shares of Stepan common stock.

How many Stepan (SCL) shares does F. Quinn Stepan Jr. hold directly after this transaction?

Following the reported option exercise, F. Quinn Stepan Jr. directly holds 160,960.262 shares of Stepan common stock.

Does the Form 4 indicate any sale of Stepan (SCL) shares by the director?

The transaction is described as an exercise and hold of stock options, meaning options were exercised into 34,741 shares without a reported sale in this filing.

What indirect Stepan (SCL) share holdings are associated with F. Quinn Stepan Jr.?

The filing lists indirect ownership of Stepan common stock through a family LLC, multiple family trusts, an ESOP, and family-related accounts. For some of these, he disclaims beneficial ownership except for any pecuniary interest.

What do the footnotes in the Stepan (SCL) Form 4 say about beneficial ownership?

Footnotes state that the shares received were from an exercise and hold option transaction, that some holdings are in joint tenancy with spouse, and that the reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of certain securities except for any pecuniary interest. They also note shares held by an estate where he serves as executor.