Insider Trading February 20, 2026

Equitable Holdings CEO Sells $1.8M in Stock Ahead of Notable Revenue Miss

Mark Pearson disposed of nearly 40,000 shares and exercised options as the company reported Q4 2025 revenue well below estimates

By Maya Rios EQH
Equitable Holdings CEO Sells $1.8M in Stock Ahead of Notable Revenue Miss
EQH

Equitable Holdings President and CEO Mark Pearson sold 39,700 shares on February 18, 2026, for about $1.8 million while also exercising options to acquire 27,200 shares at $23.18. The stock is trading below recent highs and InvestingPro flags the equity as appearing overvalued. Separately, Equitable reported Q4 2025 EPS in line with expectations but a significant revenue shortfall versus forecasts.

Key Points

  • CEO Mark Pearson sold 39,700 shares on February 18, 2026, for approximately $1.8 million and exercised options for 27,200 shares at $23.18.
  • Equitable reported Q4 2025 EPS of $1.76, meeting expectations, but revenue of $3.28 billion missed forecasts of $3.95 billion by 16.96%.
  • The stock trades at $44.35, about 22% below its 52-week high of $56.61, and InvestingPro’s Fair Value assessment flags the company as appearing overvalued.

Equitable Holdings (NYSE: EQH) President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Pearson executed a sale of 39,700 shares of the company’s common stock on February 18, 2026, generating roughly $1.8 million in proceeds. The sales were completed across prices ranging from $45.10 to $45.72 per share.

Records filed on a Form 4 with the Securities and Exchange Commission indicate that Pearson also exercised stock options to purchase 27,200 shares of Equitable common stock at an exercise price of $23.18, representing a total exercise value of $630,496.

After these transactions, Pearson’s direct ownership in Equitable Holdings stands at 763,455.01 shares. The company is listed among more than 1,400 U.S. equities covered by InvestingPro’s Pro Research Reports for investors seeking deeper executive transaction context and analysis.

Market context for the shares shows the stock trading at $44.35, a level roughly 22% beneath its 52-week high of $56.61. InvestingPro analysis, using its Fair Value framework, indicates the company appears overvalued at current market prices.


In related company news, Equitable Holdings released fourth-quarter 2025 financial results that delivered an earnings per share (EPS) of $1.76, which matched analyst expectations. However, total revenue for the quarter was reported at $3.28 billion, falling short of the $3.95 billion analysts had forecasted. That difference represents a 16.96% negative surprise versus revenue expectations.

Despite the revenue shortfall, the company’s stock showed resilience in pre-market trading following the announcement. Market observers and analysts from multiple firms have been tracking the developments, and the most recent period produced no reported analyst upgrades or downgrades.

The filings and quarterly results together present a mixed picture: executive-level share sales coupled with option exercises and a sizable revenue miss even as EPS met consensus. These elements are relevant to investors assessing the firm’s near-term financial trajectory and market valuation.


Summary of transactions and financial results

  • CEO Mark Pearson sold 39,700 shares on Feb. 18, 2026, for approximately $1.8 million at prices between $45.10 and $45.72.
  • Pearson exercised options to acquire 27,200 shares at $23.18, costing $630,496 in total.
  • Post-transaction direct ownership: 763,455.01 shares.
  • Q4 2025 EPS: $1.76, in line with expectations; Q4 2025 revenue: $3.28 billion versus $3.95 billion forecast - a 16.96% negative surprise.

Risks

  • Revenue performance risk - Q4 2025 revenue missed analyst estimates by 16.96%, indicating potential near-term top-line pressure for the company and impacting the financials sector.
  • Valuation risk - InvestingPro’s Fair Value assessment suggests the stock may be overvalued at current market levels, which is a concern for equity investors and markets.
  • Insider transaction perception - CEO stock sales, even when accompanied by option exercises, can raise investor scrutiny around management’s timing of liquidity and confidence, affecting investor sentiment in the financial services sector.

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