Arve Hanstveit, serving on the board of Energy Recovery, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERII), disposed of 165,292 shares of the company's common stock on April 2, 2026, at $10.14 per share, generating proceeds of about $1.67 million.
The sale occurred while the company's shares were trading materially below prior highs. Energy Recovery's stock sits about 43% under its 52-week peak of $18.32 and has declined roughly 34% over the past six months.
Following the reported transaction, Hanstveit retains direct ownership of 384,928 shares of Energy Recovery. He also holds indirect interests in two irrevocable trusts - the Sophie Hanstveit Irrevocable Trust and the Natasha Hanstveit Irrevocable Trust - each of which owns 60,000 shares. Hanstveit is listed as sole trustee and holds exclusive voting and investment authority for both trusts.
The filed notice states the shares sold were liquidated by a broker without instruction from Hanstveit to satisfy a margin call. Those shares had been pledged as collateral under a margin account, and the broker executed the sale to cover the shortfall.
Recent company results and guidance
Energy Recovery published fourth-quarter 2025 results that missed Street expectations. The company reported revenue of $66.9 million for the quarter, essentially flat year-over-year but below the consensus revenue projection of $82.59 million. Reported earnings per share were $0.53, short of the anticipated $0.64.
Management also provided a 2026 revenue outlook in a range between $115 million and $140 million, significantly lower than the average analyst estimate of $165 million. In conjunction with the updated guidance, Energy Recovery said it plans to exit its carbon dioxide retail grocery business, marking a shift in its operational focus.
Following those announcements, Freedom Capital Markets reduced its price target on Energy Recovery to $13.00 from $18.20, while retaining a Buy rating. The firm cited continued uncertainty around project timing as the reason for the lower target.
Context and implications
The broker-initiated stock sale and the company's disappointed fourth-quarter results come in the same reporting cycle. The combination of a margin-related disposal of insider-held shares, weaker-than-expected financials, reduced guidance, and a trimmed price target reflect a period of operational and market pressure for Energy Recovery.
Given the available disclosures, it is clear the sale was prompted by a margin event handled by a broker rather than an instructed insider liquidation. Beyond the transaction mechanics, the company faces the immediate challenge of aligning execution and project timing with market expectations.