[Form 4] Western Digital Corp. Insider Trading Activity
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Gene M. Zamiska, Senior Vice President & Principal Accounting Officer of Western Digital Corporation (WDC), reported multiple transactions in the issuer's common stock on August 25-26, 2025. On 08/25/2025 dividend equivalent rights were converted into 2.7201 shares upon RSU vesting and paid in kind, increasing his holding to 29,734 shares. Also on 08/25/2025 798 shares were withheld to satisfy taxes at an average implied price of $79.22, leaving 28,936 shares. On 08/26/2025 he sold 814 shares under a Rule 10b5-1 plan at an average price of $79.10, leaving 28,122 shares.
The Form 4 was signed by an attorney-in-fact on 08/27/2025. Explanations note conversion of dividend equivalents, tax-withholding for vesting, and that the sale was pursuant to a March 6, 2025 Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.
Positive
- Conversion of dividend equivalents into shares on 08/25/2025 reflects standard RSU vesting and increases beneficial ownership by 2.7201 shares.
- Sale executed under a Rule 10b5-1 plan adopted March 6, 2025, indicating pre-planned trading and an affirmative defense to insider-trading claims.
- Tax obligation satisfied by withholding (798 shares) in accordance with Rule 16b-3(e), showing routine compensation tax handling.
Negative
- Officer sold 814 shares on 08/26/2025 at ~$79.10 per share, reducing holdings to 28,122 shares—represents an actual disposition of stock.
Insights
TL;DR: Officer received small equity from RSU vesting, paid taxes via share withholding, and sold a modest position under a pre-established 10b5-1 plan.
The transactions are routine compensation and tax-related actions rather than opportunistic executive sales. The conversion of dividend equivalent rights into 2.7201 shares reflects RSU vesting treatment; the withholding of 798 shares to satisfy taxes is an administrative step that reduced holdings. The 814-share sale executed under a 10b5-1 plan indicates the sale was pre-planned and not necessarily market-timed. Absolute sizes are small relative to typical officer holdings, suggesting limited direct corporate-governance or balance-sheet impact.
TL;DR: Transactions appear compliant and procedural: vesting settlement, tax withholding, and a pre-established trading-plan sale.
From a governance perspective, disclosures meet Section 16 requirements and cite Rule 16b-3(e) for tax withholding and Rule 10b5-1 for the sale, which supports an affirmative defense to insider-trading allegations. The filing is signed by an attorney-in-fact, a common practice for timely compliance. No indication of unusual timing or material divestiture is present based on reported share counts and prices.