Keefer James H JR 4

What Happened

• James H. Keefer Jr., Senior Vice President, Controller & Chief Accounting Officer of American Eagle Outfitters (AEO), was granted 107 dividend-equivalent rights on January 23, 2026. The Form 4 reports these as a derivative award (code A) with an acquisition price of $0.00 — i.e., an equity award, not an open‑market purchase.

Key Details

• Transaction date: 2026-01-23; Filing date (Form 4): 2026-01-27 (filed timely).
• Instrument: Dividend-equivalent rights tied to previously awarded restricted stock units (RSUs); reported as 107 units at $0.00.
• Transaction code: A (Award/Grant).
• Shares owned after transaction: Not specified in the provided filing details.
• Footnote: The dividend-equivalent rights accrue on the underlying RSUs and vest proportionately with those RSUs. Each dividend equivalent is the economic equivalent of one share of AEO common stock.

Context

• These dividend-equivalent awards are a form of compensation linked to existing RSUs and do not represent a cash purchase or sale; they typically convert into shares (or cash) only as the underlying RSUs vest according to the award terms. Such awards are routine executive compensation and should not be interpreted alone as a directional signal about the insider’s view of the stock.