STOCK TITAN

WEC Insider Mary Ellen Stanek Defers Fees into Phantom Stock Units

Filing Impact
(Neutral)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
4

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Form 4 filing highlights: On 07/08/2025, WEC Energy Group (WEC) independent director Mary Ellen Stanek elected to defer a portion of her board fees into 347.7932 phantom stock units under the Company’s Director’s Deferred Compensation Plan (DDCP).

Key transaction details:

  • Transaction code: A (exempt acquisition).
  • Security: Phantom stock units convertible 1-for-1 into common stock upon settlement.
  • Reference price disclosed: $103.32 per underlying share.
  • Units acquired: 347.7932; post-transaction balance: 49,579.5041 units held directly.

Interpretation: The incremental award is routine, non-cash compensation that tracks WEC’s share price and does not immediately dilute existing shareholders. With WEC’s share count above 300 million, the additional units represent less than 0.0001 % of shares outstanding—financially immaterial but directionally positive for governance alignment. No open-market purchase or sale of common stock occurred, so market impact is expected to be negligible.

Positive

  • Director increased her deferred equity exposure through 347.7932 additional phantom units, reinforcing alignment with shareholder interests.

Negative

  • None.

Insights

TL;DR Routine phantom-unit grant; negligible size, neutral market impact, mildly positive governance signal.

The 348 phantom units added through fee deferral equal roughly $36 k in notional value—insignificant for WEC’s $33 bn market cap. Because the units settle later and involve no cash outlay by the company today, there is no earnings or liquidity effect. Insider accumulation can be viewed positively, but magnitude is too small to influence valuation or trading dynamics. I assign a neutral rating.

TL;DR Filing illustrates board-shareholder alignment via deferred equity; no material strategic implications.

Deferring fees into stock-settled units embeds long-term ownership mentality, matching director incentives with shareholder interests. The practice is common among well-governed utilities and signals sound compensation design. However, because it merely continues an existing plan and lacks size, it does not materially alter governance risk or control. Overall impact is marginally positive but not transformative.

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*
STANEK MARY ELLEN

(Last) (First) (Middle)
231 WEST MICHIGAN STREET

(Street)
MILWAUKEE WI 53203

(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
WEC ENERGY GROUP, INC. [ WEC ]
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)
07/08/2025
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
Phantom Stock Units (1) 07/08/2025 A 347.7932(2) (3) (3) Common Stock 347.7932 $103.32 49,579.5041(4) D
Explanation of Responses:
1. One-for-one.
2. These phantom stock units were acquired pursuant to a deferral of director fees in an acquisition exempt from Section 16(b) pursuant to Rule 16b-3(d).
3. These phantom stock units were accrued under the WEC Energy Group, Inc. Director's Deferred Compensation Plan (DDCP) and are to be settled in accordance with the terms of the plan.
4. Includes phantom stock units accrued pursuant to a dividend reinvestment feature of the DDCP in transactions exempt from Section 16 pursuant to Rule 16a-11.
Remarks:
Joshua M. Erickson, as attorney in fact 07/10/2025
** 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 WEC director Mary Ellen Stanek report on Form 4?

She acquired 347.7932 phantom stock units on 07/08/2025 via fee deferral under the DDCP.

How many phantom stock units does Stanek now hold in WEC (WEC)?

After the transaction she beneficially owns 49,579.5041 phantom units, all held directly.

Was cash exchanged or common stock issued in this WEC insider transaction?

No. Phantom units are non-cash, deferred compensation that settle into shares in the future; there is no immediate cash or share issuance.

Does the 07/08/2025 Form 4 suggest insider buying pressure for WEC?

The amount is immaterial (<0.0001 % of shares), so it is unlikely to create market pressure.

Why were the phantom stock units exempt from Section 16(b)?

They were granted under Rule 16b-3(d) as director compensation within the DDCP, making the acquisition exempt.
WEC Energy

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37.72B
324.93M
Utilities - Regulated Electric
Electric & Other Services Combined
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United States
MILWAUKEE