WBD (WBD) CEO Zaslav granted over 4M performance-based shares, tax withheld
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. reported that Chief Executive Officer David Zaslav acquired large equity awards in the form of Series A Common Stock on February 24, 2026. He received 2,094,242 shares from 2025 annual performance-based restricted stock units and 2,006,982 shares from 2025 supplemental performance-based restricted stock units.
These awards were earned after the compensation committee certified that 2025 strategic objectives and free cash flow performance had been achieved and exceeded pre-established targets. To cover related tax withholding obligations, the company withheld 803,005 shares and 774,460 shares at a price of $29.15 per share.
Following these transactions, Zaslav directly owned 11,204,776 shares of Series A Common Stock, with an additional 153 shares held indirectly through his spouse.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Insights
Large performance-based stock awards were earned, with shares withheld for taxes, leaving CEO ownership higher overall.
The transactions show David Zaslav earning substantial performance-based restricted stock tied to 2025 free cash flow and strategic goals. Awards of 2,094,242 and 2,006,982 shares were triggered after the compensation committee certified that 2025 targets were achieved and exceeded.
Shares totaling 803,005 and 774,460 were withheld at $29.15 per share to satisfy tax obligations, a common non-market mechanism. After these events on February 24, 2026, his direct holdings rose to 11,204,776 shares. As compensation-driven, non-cash transactions, the information is notable but not clearly thesis-changing.
Insider Trade Summary
| Type | Security | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grant/Award | Series A Common Stock | 2,094,242 | $0.00 | -- |
| Tax Withholding | Series A Common Stock | 803,005 | $29.15 | $23.41M |
| Grant/Award | Series A Common Stock | 2,006,982 | $0.00 | -- |
| Tax Withholding | Series A Common Stock | 774,460 | $29.15 | $22.58M |
| holding | Series A Common Stock | -- | -- | -- |
Footnotes (1)
- These shares represent the annual performance-based restricted stock units granted to Mr. Zaslav in March 2025 ("2025 Annual PRSUs") and were earned based on his achievement of certain individual strategic objectives and WBD's 2025 free cash flow ("FCF") performance in relation to a pre-established target. On February 24, 2026, the WBD Compensation Committee certified that the 2025 strategic and financial objectives had been achieved and exceeded. These shares represent shares that were withheld by the Company to satisfy its tax withholding obligations with respect to the 2025 Annual PRSUs. These shares represent performance-based restricted stock units granted to Mr. Zaslav in March 2025 ("2025 Supplemental PRSUs") and were earned based solely on WBD's 2025 free cash flow ("FCF") performance in relation to a pre-established target. On February 24, 2026, the WBD Compensation Committee certified that WBD's 2025 FCF performance had exceeded the pre-established target. These shares represent shares that were withheld by the Company to satisfy its tax withholding obligations with respect to the 2025 Supplemental PRSUs.