Insider Trading February 18, 2026

CNO Financial General Counsel Disposes of 57,370 Shares in Two-Day Sale

Matthew J. Zimpfer executed option exercises and sold the acquired shares under a Rule 10b5-1 plan, totaling roughly $2.4 million

By Leila Farooq CNO
CNO Financial General Counsel Disposes of 57,370 Shares in Two-Day Sale
CNO

CNO Financial Group Inc.'s general counsel, Matthew J. Zimpfer, exercised options to acquire 57,370 shares and sold those same shares across Feb. 17-18, 2026, under a pre-existing Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The two-day disposition generated about $2.4 million in proceeds, while the company simultaneously disclosed mixed fourth-quarter 2025 financial results, including an EPS shortfall and revenue above expectations.

Key Points

  • CNO Financial Group general counsel Matthew J. Zimpfer sold a total of 57,370 shares on February 17-18, 2026, for about $2.4 million under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.
  • The sales were conducted in two tranches: 23,570 shares on Feb. 17 (weighted average $43.1656) and 33,800 shares on Feb. 18 (weighted average $43.0515).
  • During the same two days, Mr. Zimpfer exercised options to acquire those 57,370 shares at exercise prices of $23.33 and $17.48; the acquired shares had a combined reported value of $1,140,712. These transactions coincided with CNO's Q4 2025 results, which showed revenue above expectations but an EPS miss.

Transaction overview

Matthew J. Zimpfer, general counsel of CNO Financial Group Inc (NYSE:CNO), executed option exercises and sold the resulting common stock in two tranches on February 17 and 18, 2026. In aggregate, Mr. Zimpfer sold 57,370 shares for approximately $2.4 million. The transactions were carried out pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan that he adopted on June 9, 2025.

Details of the sales

On February 17, 2026, Mr. Zimpfer sold 23,570 shares of CNO common stock at a weighted average price of $43.1656 per share, producing proceeds of $1,017,274. The prices for shares sold that day ranged from $42.94 to $43.79.

On February 18, 2026, he sold an additional 33,800 shares at a weighted average price of $43.0515 per share, yielding $1,455,279 in proceeds. Those shares traded between $42.92 and $43.28.

Option exercises tied to the sales

Concurrently with the sales, Mr. Zimpfer exercised stock options to acquire the same total of 57,370 shares. On February 17, he exercised options covering 23,570 shares at an exercise price of $23.33 per share. On February 18, he exercised options for 33,800 shares at an exercise price of $17.48 per share. The combined value of the shares acquired through these option exercises was reported as $1,140,712.

Context from recent company results

These insider transactions occurred amid the company’s recent financial disclosures for the fourth quarter of 2025. CNO Financial reported an earnings per share (EPS) figure of $0.95 for the quarter, below the $1.21 that had been anticipated. Revenue for the period was $1.14 billion, which exceeded expectations of $1 billion. The disclosures present a mixed financial picture for the company, with revenue outperforming forecasts while EPS missed estimates.

What is documented

All transaction details above - including dates, share counts, prices, exercise prices, totals, and the existence of a Rule 10b5-1 plan adopted on June 9, 2025 - are taken from the company’s reported filings and disclosures. The revenue and EPS figures for the fourth quarter of 2025 are likewise as reported by the company.


Final note

The combination of option exercises and immediate sales under a prearranged plan is fully documented in the disclosed filings. The company’s recent earnings release shows stronger-than-expected revenue alongside an EPS shortfall, creating a nuanced financial snapshot during the period when these executive transactions took place.

Risks

  • The company's fourth-quarter 2025 EPS of $0.95 missed the anticipated $1.21, indicating earnings weakness that may affect investor sentiment - relevant to financial markets and investors in financial services securities.
  • Insider option exercises followed by sales, even when conducted under a Rule 10b5-1 plan, can create short-term trading volume around management stockholders that some market participants may view as a source of price pressure - affecting market activity in the company's shares.
  • The mixed quarterly results - stronger revenue but weaker EPS - create uncertainty about near-term profitability trends for the company and can complicate valuation assessments in the financial sector.

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