Insider Trading February 17, 2026

Dolby Executive Disposes of 2,667 Shares, Also Exercises Equivalent Options

VP Ryan Nicholson sold $177,022 in Class A stock and exercised options to acquire the same number of shares as Dolby reports quarterly beat

By Leila Farooq DLB
Dolby Executive Disposes of 2,667 Shares, Also Exercises Equivalent Options
DLB

Ryan Nicholson, Dolby Laboratories' vice president and corporate controller, executed a sale of 2,667 Class A shares on February 13, 2026, for $177,022 and simultaneously exercised options for 2,667 shares at $45.50. Dolby’s shares have weakened over the past year and are trading close to their 52-week low, even as the company posted first-quarter 2026 results that topped analyst expectations.

Key Points

  • Dolby VP and corporate controller Ryan Nicholson sold 2,667 Class A shares on February 13, 2026, for $177,022.
  • Nicholson exercised options for 2,667 shares the same day at $45.50 per share, costing $121,348.
  • Dolby reported Q1 2026 EPS of $1.06 versus an expected $0.88 (a 20.45% positive surprise) and revenue of $347 million versus an expected $332.07 million; the stock trades near its 52-week low.

Transaction overview

Ryan Nicholson, who serves as vice president, chief accounting officer and corporate controller at Dolby Laboratories, Inc., sold 2,667 shares of the company’s Class A common stock on February 13, 2026. The shares changed hands at prices between $66.37 and $66.39, bringing the total proceeds from the sale to $177,022.

Concurrent option exercise

On the same date Nicholson exercised options to acquire an identical number of Class A shares - 2,667 - at an exercise price of $45.50 per share, for an aggregate cost of $121,348. The paired sale and exercise reduce the net option exposure while realizing proceeds from the sale of stock.

Market context

Dolby’s stock was trading at $63.65 at the time the market snapshot was recorded, representing roughly a 22% decline over the prior 12 months and placing the share price near its 52-week low of $60.14. Those price levels frame Nicholson’s transactions against a backdrop of a year-long share price pullback.

Company financials and valuation notes

Data referenced with the company’s financial profile highlights a gross profit margin of 87.86% and a dividend yield of 2.26%. The company has a record of raising its dividend for 12 consecutive years and is characterized as appearing undervalued according to a Fair Value assessment cited in the available research coverage. Dolby is included among a broad set of covered U.S. equities within the referenced pro research offering.

Quarterly performance

Dolby reported first-quarter 2026 results that exceeded expectations. Earnings per share came in at $1.06 versus an anticipated $0.88, a positive surprise quantified as 20.45%. Revenue for the quarter reached $347 million, topping the projected $332.07 million. Analysts highlighted the earnings beat in their commentary, and the results were presented as a strong quarter relative to consensus forecasts.

What this means

The insider sale and simultaneous option exercise are recorded alongside the company’s most recent financial disclosure showing outperformance against estimates, while the stock itself remains materially below its level from a year earlier and close to its 52-week low. Market participants continue to monitor both insider activity and quarterly results as part of Dolby’s evolving story.


Note: This article presents transaction and financial data as reported.

Risks

  • Share-price volatility: Dolby’s stock has declined about 22% over the past year and is trading close to its 52-week low of $60.14, indicating potential downside risk for equity holders and affecting investor sentiment - impacts the equity markets and investor portfolios.
  • Insider selling: The recorded sale by a senior finance officer may raise questions among investors about near-term insider positioning, which could influence trading in Dolby shares - impacts market perception in the technology and media sectors.
  • Valuation uncertainty: Although research coverage cites attractive metrics and a longstanding dividend increase record, valuation assessments and market reactions to quarterly results may diverge, creating uncertainty around price discovery - impacts valuation-sensitive investors and income-focused strategies.

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