Scotts Miracle-Gro (SMG) CEO settles phantom stock, withholds shares for tax
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
4
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Scotts Miracle-Gro Chairman & CEO James Hagedorn settled compensation-related phantom stock into common shares in a routine transaction. On March 30, 2026, he exercised 1,720.158 phantom stock units, receiving an equal number of common shares at a conversion price of $0.00 per share.
Of the resulting 1,720 common shares, 637 shares were withheld at $60.202 per share to cover tax obligations, a non-market “F” code tax-withholding disposition. After these transactions, he directly holds 88,554.9828 common shares and 238,673.3600 phantom stock units, indicating a primarily administrative change in how his compensation is held.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Insider Trade Summary
1,720.158 shares exercised/converted
Mixed
3 txns
Insider
HAGEDORN JAMES
Role
Chairman & CEO
| Type | Security | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise | Phantom Stock | 1,720.158 | $0.00 | -- |
| Exercise | Common Shares | 1,720 | $0.00 | -- |
| Tax Withholding | Common Shares | 637 | $60.202 | $38K |
Holdings After Transaction:
Phantom Stock — 238,673.36 shares (Direct);
Common Shares — 89,191.983 shares (Direct)
Footnotes (1)
- Each phantom stock unit was the economic equivalent of one share of Issuer's common shares. On March 30, 2026, the reporting person's phantom stock units were settled for an equal number of whole shares of Issuer's common shares. Each share of phantom stock represents the right to receive one common share of Issuer or the cash value thereof. Shares of phantom stock are payable in cash following termination of the reporting person's employment with Issuer. The reporting person may transfer his/her phantom stock into an alternative investment at any time.
Key Figures
Phantom units exercised: 1,720.158 units
Common shares received: 1,720 shares
Shares withheld for taxes: 637 shares
+3 more
6 metrics
Phantom units exercised
1,720.158 units
Phantom stock converted to common shares on March 30, 2026
Common shares received
1,720 shares
Common shares from phantom stock exercise at $0.00 per share
Shares withheld for taxes
637 shares
Tax-withholding disposition at $60.202 per share
Common shares after transaction
88,554.9828 shares
Direct holdings following March 30, 2026 transactions
Phantom stock after transaction
238,673.3600 units
Phantom stock units outstanding after exercise event
Tax-withholding price
$60.202 per share
Price used for 637-share tax-withholding transaction
Key Terms
Phantom Stock, derivative security, tax-withholding disposition, phantom stock units
4 terms
Phantom Stock financial
"Each phantom stock unit was the economic equivalent of one share of Issuer's common shares."
A phantom stock is a form of compensation that gives employees or executives the benefits of stock ownership, such as the increase in stock value, without actually giving them real shares. It acts like a promise to pay the employee the equivalent value of company stock later, often as a bonus or incentive. This allows companies to motivate and reward staff without diluting ownership or transferring actual shares.
derivative security financial
"Exercise or conversion of derivative security"
A derivative security is a financial contract whose value comes from the price or performance of something else, such as a stock, bond, commodity, or market index. For investors it acts like an insurance policy or a wager: it can be used to protect against losses, lock in prices, or amplify gains and losses, so it can change a portfolio’s risk and potential return without owning the underlying asset directly.
tax-withholding disposition financial
"Payment of exercise price or tax liability by delivering securities"
A tax-withholding disposition is an event or transaction—such as selling or transferring securities, exercising options, or receiving compensation—that triggers a requirement to hold back part of the payment and remit it to tax authorities. It matters to investors because it reduces the cash they receive immediately and can change the timing and amount of taxable income, like a cashier taking a portion of your sale proceeds to pay taxes before you get the rest.
phantom stock units financial
"the reporting person's phantom stock units were settled for an equal number of whole shares"
Phantom stock units are company promises that pay a cash or stock-equivalent award tied to the firm’s share price or value growth, but they do not issue actual shares. Think of them as a bonus check that moves with the stock like a mirror rather than handing over an ownership slice. Investors care because these awards can affect a company’s future cash obligations, executive incentives and reported expenses without causing share dilution.
FAQ
What insider transaction did Scotts Miracle-Gro (SMG) report for James Hagedorn?
Scotts Miracle-Gro reported that Chairman & CEO James Hagedorn exercised 1,720.158 phantom stock units into the same number of common shares. This was a compensation-related conversion, not an open-market stock purchase or sale.
What are phantom stock units in the Scotts Miracle-Gro (SMG) Form 4?
Each Scotts Miracle-Gro phantom stock unit is economically equivalent to one common share, representing the right to receive a share or its cash value. In this case, 1,720.158 phantom units were settled into an equal number of common shares.
Is the Scotts Miracle-Gro (SMG) insider transaction an open-market trade?
No, the reported transactions are not open-market trades. They reflect the exercise of 1,720.158 phantom stock units into common shares and 637 shares withheld for taxes, both standard compensation and tax-settlement events.