Topalian Leon J 4
4 · NUCOR CORP · Filed May 19, 2026
Research Summary
AI-generated summary of this filing
Nucor CEO Leon Topalian Exercises Options, Sells Shares
What Happened
Leon J. Topalian, Chairman and CEO of Nucor Corporation, exercised 52,000 employee stock options on May 15, 2026 at $42.46 per share (total cost reported $2,207,920) and, on the same day, disposed of 52,000 shares via open-market sales in multiple trades for aggregate proceeds of roughly $11.84 million. The filing also shows a 52,000-share derivative disposition reported at $0.00 (see footnote F6), consistent with option exercise/tax-related share withholding or a cashless exercise settlement.
Key Details
- Transaction date: May 15, 2026; Form 4 filed May 19, 2026 (within the typical 2-business-day reporting window).
- Options exercised: 52,000 shares at $42.46 each = $2,207,920 (footnote F6: employee stock option).
- Open-market sales (all on May 15, 2026):
- 16,239 shares at weighted avg $226.84 = $3,683,721 (prices ranged $226.190–$227.180) (F1)
- 21,954 shares at weighted avg $227.58 = $4,996,269 (prices ranged $227.190–$228.150) (F2)
- 9,366 shares at weighted avg $228.63 = $2,141,383 (prices ranged $228.210–$229.120) (F3)
- 4,441 shares at weighted avg $229.32 = $1,018,405 (prices ranged $229.290–$229.358) (F4)
- Total shares sold: 52,000; total gross proceeds ≈ $11,839,778.
- Derivative entry: 52,000 shares reported disposed at $0.00 (see F6); often indicates shares withheld or net settlement related to option exercise.
- Shares owned after the transactions: not specified in the filing. Footnote F5 notes a $308,247.58 balance in the Nucor Stock Fund of the Nucor Profit Sharing Plan (shares calculated by plan administrator).
Context
This pattern — exercising options and selling an equal number of shares the same day — is commonly a cashless exercise or a routine step to cover exercise costs and tax withholding rather than a pure directional bet on the stock. The weighted-average sale prices are provided with ranges in the footnotes; the reporting person offers to provide per-price breakdowns on request. No indication in the filing that these trades were part of a pre-arranged 10b5-1 plan or a gift; the filing notes the transactions relate to employee stock options.
Insider Transaction Report
- Exercise/Conversion
Common Stock
2026-05-15$42.46/sh+52,000$2,207,920→ 195,841.47 total - Sale
Common Stock
[F1]2026-05-15$226.84/sh−16,239$3,683,721→ 179,602.47 total - Sale
Common Stock
[F2]2026-05-15$227.58/sh−21,954$4,996,269→ 157,648.47 total - Sale
Common Stock
[F3]2026-05-15$228.63/sh−9,366$2,141,383→ 148,282.47 total - Sale
Common Stock
[F4]2026-05-15$229.32/sh−4,441$1,018,405→ 143,841.47 total - Exercise/Conversion
Stock Option
[F6]2026-05-15−52,000→ 171,981 totalExercise: $42.46From: 2023-06-01Exp: 2030-05-31→ Common Stock (52,000 underlying)
- 1,357.8(indirect: In Profit Sharing Plan)
Common Stock
[F5]
Footnotes (6)
- [F1]The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $226.190 to $227.180, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the issuer, any security holder of the issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.
- [F2]The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $227.190 to $228.150, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the issuer, any security holder of the issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.
- [F3]The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $228.210 to $229.120, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the issuer, any security holder of the issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.
- [F4]The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $229.290 to $229.358, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the issuer, any security holder of the issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.
- [F5]As of May 15, 2026, the reporting person had a balance of $308,247.58 in the Nucor Stock Fund in the Nucor Profit Sharing Plan. The number of shares has been calculated by the plan administrator of such plan.
- [F6]Employee Stock Option (right to buy)