Form 4: VTLE director gets 2,617 DSUs; 15,414 held after

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Vital Energy (VTLE) reported a routine equity compensation grant to a director. On 11/10/2025, director Frances Powell Hawes received 2,617 deferred stock units as partial payment of her retainer and director fees under the Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan. Each deferred stock unit represents the right to receive one share of common stock. Following this award, she held 15,414 derivative securities, reported as direct ownership. The award carried a $0 price as it was compensation.

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

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

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^*

Hawes Frances Powell

(Last) (First) (Middle)

521 E. 2ND STREET, SUITE 1000

(Street)

TULSA OK 74120

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Vital Energy, Inc. [ VTLE ]

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)
11/10/2025

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

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
Deferred Stock Units	(1)	11/10/2025		A		2,617		(2)	(2)	Common Stock	2,617	$0	15,414	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. These shares are granted under the Issuer's Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan and represent partial payment of the director's retainer and director fees.

2. These deferred stock units are granted under the Issuer's Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan and represent partial payment of the director's retainer and director fees. Each deferred stock unit represents the right to receive one share of common stock of the Issuer.

Remarks:

	/s/ Mark D. Denny as attorney-in-fact for Frances Powell Hawes	11/12/2025
	** 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 did VTLE disclose in this Form 4?

A director received 2,617 deferred stock units on 11/10/2025 as partial payment of retainer and fees under the Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan.

How many derivative securities does the reporting person hold after the transaction?

Following the award, the director held 15,414 derivative securities, reported as direct ownership.

What does each deferred stock unit represent for VTLE?

Each deferred stock unit represents the right to receive one share of VTLE common stock.

What was the transaction price for the VTLE director’s award?

The award was recorded at $0 because it is compensation, not a market purchase.

Why were these units granted to the VTLE director?

They represent partial payment of the director’s retainer and director fees under the company’s Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan.

Was this a market purchase or sale of VTLE shares?

No. It was an equity compensation grant of deferred stock units.