HireQuest (HQI) Director Rimmy Malhotra Receives 5,036-Share Award

What Happened
Rimmy Malhotra, a director of HireQuest, Inc. (HQI), was granted a total of 5,036 restricted shares on August 12, 2026: one award of 1,036 shares and a separate award of 4,000 shares. The awards are restricted stock issued as director compensation (one in‑lieu of a quarterly cash retainer and one annual non‑employee director award). The filing notes the Nasdaq closing price on the grant date was $16.64, implying an aggregate grant value of about $83,799. These are awards (not open‑market purchases or sales) with specified future vesting dates.

Key Details

• Transaction date: August 12, 2026; Form 4 filed August 14, 2026 (timely).
• Awards: 1,036 shares (864 vest Nov 12, 2026; 172 vest Aug 12, 2028) and 4,000 shares (vest Jun 15, 2028).
• Price/status: Restricted stock awards (no cash price at grant). Closing price used for value: $16.64/share.
• Implied value: ~5,036 shares × $16.64 ≈ $83,799.
• Shares owned after transaction: not specified in the provided filing.
• Footnotes: awards were compensation under the 2019 Non‑Employee Director Compensation Plan and in‑lieu cash retainer; one note clarifies Mr. Malhotra disclaims beneficial ownership of certain shares held by Nicoya Fund, LLC except to extent of pecuniary interest.
• No 10b5‑1 plan, tax‑withholding sale, or option exercise reported.

Context
Restricted stock awards to non‑employee directors are routine compensation to align directors with shareholder interests and vest over time; they are not the same signal as a market purchase or sale. Because these are grants, they reflect compensation policy rather than an immediate bullish or bearish trade by the insider.