[Form 4] Western Digital Corp. Insider Trading Activity
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Insider activity at Western Digital (WDC): Vidyadhara K. Gubbi, Chief of Global Operations and an officer of Western Digital, reported transactions on 08/25/2025. Dividend equivalent rights were converted into common stock on a one-for-one basis when related restricted stock units vested, with fractional dividend equivalents settled in cash.
The report shows an addition of shares via conversion (listed as 3.8841 dividend-equivalent units converting to common stock) and a separate withholding disposition of 1,140 shares to satisfy tax withholding at an average price of $79.22. Beneficial ownership after the reported transactions is shown as 146,792 shares (down from 147,932 prior to the withholding transaction). The Form 4 is signed by an attorney-in-fact on behalf of Mr. Gubbi on 08/27/2025.
Positive
- Dividend equivalent rights converted to shares on a one-for-one basis, increasing beneficially owned common stock via non-cash compensation
- Disclosure follows Rule 16b-3(e) for withholding-tax settlement, indicating use of standard plan mechanics and compliance with reporting rules
Negative
- 1,140 shares withheld to satisfy tax obligations, reducing direct holdings from 147,932 to 146,792
- Withholding executed at $79.22 per share, representing a taxable-event disposition of insider shares
Insights
TL;DR: Insider received shares via dividend-equivalent conversion and withheld 1,140 shares to pay taxes; net holdings modestly declined.
The Form 4 discloses a non-cash conversion of dividend equivalent rights into common stock concurrent with RSU vesting and a taxable-event share withholding of 1,140 shares at a reported price of $79.22. The conversion increases share count by the converted units while the withholding reduced directly held shares from 147,932 to 146,792. This activity appears routine around RSU vesting and tax settlement and is not a material change to total ownership for a company the size of WDC based solely on the provided figures.
TL;DR: Transactions reflect standard executive compensation mechanics (RSU vesting, dividend-equivalent conversion, tax withholding).
The disclosure follows standard Section 16 reporting: dividend equivalent rights were converted one-for-one into common stock and fractional amounts were cash-settled, consistent with plan terms. The payment of tax obligations by withholding 1,140 shares is described as occurring pursuant to Rule 16b-3(e), indicating compliance with customary insider transaction exemptions. No indication of derivative grants beyond the conversion is presented and the filing is signed by an attorney-in-fact, which is common practice.