Watts Water (NYSE: WTS) CEO has shares withheld to cover tax obligations
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
4
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Watts Water Technologies President and CEO Robert J. Pagano Jr. reported mandatory share withholdings to cover taxes on equity awards. On March 16, 2026, a total of 7,788 shares of Class A Common Stock were disposed at $297.80 per share to satisfy tax withholding obligations tied to vesting of deferred stock awards granted in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The footnotes state these dispositions were required under the grant agreements and the company’s Management Stock Purchase Plan and did not represent discretionary trades. After these transactions, Pagano directly holds 199,753 shares of Class A Common Stock.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Insider Trade Summary
3 transactions reported
Mixed
3 txns
Insider
Pagano Robert J Jr
Role
President and CEO
| Type | Security | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tax Withholding | Class A Common Stock | 2,061 | $297.80 | $614K |
| Tax Withholding | Class A Common Stock | 2,151 | $297.80 | $641K |
| Tax Withholding | Class A Common Stock | 3,576 | $297.80 | $1.06M |
Holdings After Transaction:
Class A Common Stock — 205,480 shares (Direct)
Footnotes (1)
- Represents shares disposed to cover taxes upon the vesting of a deferred stock award granted to the Reporting Person on March 14, 2024. The disposition of shares to cover tax withholding obligations is required by the terms of the Reporting Person's grant agreement and does not represent a discretionary transaction by the Reporting Person. Represents shares disposed to cover taxes upon the vesting of a deferred stock award granted to the Reporting Person on March 14, 2025. The disposition of shares to cover tax withholding obligations is required by the terms of the Reporting Person's grant agreement and does not represent a discretionary transaction by the Reporting Person. Represents the number of shares required to be withheld to cover tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of restricted stock units (RSUs) purchased by the Reporting Person under the Issuer's Management Stock Purchase Plan (MSPP) on March 15, 2023. The Reporting Person previously reported the total number of shares subject to vesting of the RSUs in Table I of a Form 4 filed in connection with the original purchase of the RSUs. The withholding of shares to cover tax withholding obligations is mandated by the terms of the Issuer's MSPP and does not represent a discretionary transaction by the Reporting Person.
FAQ
What insider transaction did Watts Water (WTS) CEO report on this Form 4?
Watts Water CEO Robert J. Pagano Jr. reported mandatory tax-withholding dispositions. A total of 7,788 Class A shares were withheld on March 16, 2026 at $297.80 per share when previously granted stock awards and RSUs vested.
Does this Watts Water (WTS) Form 4 show open-market selling by the CEO?
No, the transactions are Code F tax-withholding dispositions, not open-market sales. The filing clarifies the shares were withheld or delivered solely to meet tax obligations required by award terms, rather than reflecting discretionary buying or selling decisions by the CEO.
What types of equity awards triggered the Watts Water (WTS) CEO’s tax withholdings?
The tax withholdings relate to deferred stock awards granted in 2024 and 2025, and restricted stock units purchased in 2023 under the Management Stock Purchase Plan. When these awards vested, shares were automatically withheld to satisfy the associated tax liabilities.