Insider Trading February 25, 2026

Fifth Third CIO Schramm Sells $757,514 in Stock After Exercising SARs; Bank Advances With Comerica Deal

Insider transactions include share sales, SAR exercises and tax-related dispositions as Fifth Third moves to integrate Comerica and expand its branch footprint

By Hana Yamamoto FITB
Fifth Third CIO Schramm Sells $757,514 in Stock After Exercising SARs; Bank Advances With Comerica Deal
FITB

Jude Schramm, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ: FITB), executed a series of transactions on February 23 and 24, 2026 that included the sale of 11,396 shares for $757,514, the exercise of stock appreciation rights for 14,228 shares valued at $380,172, and the disposition of 10,332 shares to cover tax liabilities worth $523,935. After the transactions, Schramm directly owns 141,460 shares. The activity coincides with Fifth Third’s completed acquisition of Comerica Inc., subsequent credit-rating upgrades, a reiterated Overweight rating from Piper Sandler and plans to expand to roughly 1,750 branches by 2030.

Key Points

  • Jude Schramm sold 11,396 shares on February 23-24, 2026 in eight transactions, raising $757,514 at prices between $50.5408 and $50.99.
  • Schramm exercised stock appreciation rights for 14,228 shares at an exercise price of $26.72 (total value $380,172) and disposed of 10,332 shares to cover tax obligations valued at $523,935; he now directly owns 141,460 shares.
  • Fifth Third completed the acquisition of Comerica, creating a combined bank with about $294 billion in assets, prompting S&P upgrades and plans to reach roughly 1,750 branches by 2030; Piper Sandler reiterated an Overweight rating with a $57.00 target.

Key insider moves

Fifth Third Bancorp Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer Jude Schramm reported multiple stock transactions in a recent SEC filing. On February 23 and 24, 2026, Schramm sold a total of 11,396 shares of Fifth Third common stock in eight separate transactions. The sales were executed at prices ranging from $50.5408 to $50.99, producing aggregate proceeds of $757,514.

In the same filing, Schramm disclosed that he exercised stock appreciation rights and thereby acquired 14,228 shares of Fifth Third Bancorp common stock at an exercise price of $26.72, representing a total value of $380,172. Separately, 10,332 shares were disposed of to satisfy tax obligations; those shares were valued at $523,935, reflecting a per-share figure of $50.71. Following the combined set of transactions, Schramm’s direct ownership stands at 141,460 shares.


Market context and valuation notes

At the time of the disclosure, Fifth Third’s stock was trading at $51.56, a price that reflects an increase of nearly 25% over the prior 12 months. An InvestingPro analysis cited in the filing indicates that Fifth Third appears undervalued at current price levels. The bank has sustained dividend payments for 51 consecutive years and currently offers a yield of 3.1%.

The filing and the surrounding market commentary reference the availability of FITB’s comprehensive Pro Research Report on InvestingPro, alongside research on more than 1,400 other U.S. stocks.


Corporate developments following the Comerica acquisition

The insider activity unfolds against the backdrop of Fifth Third’s completed acquisition of Comerica Inc. The merger has produced what the combined company describes as the ninth-largest U.S. bank, with approximately $294 billion in assets. As part of the transaction, Comerica became a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third, and Comerica’s shares were delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.

S&P Global Ratings responded to the merger by upgrading Comerica Inc.’s long-term rating to 'BBB+' from 'BBB' and elevating Comerica Bank’s rating to 'A-' from 'BBB+'.

Fifth Third has signaled plans for substantial operational expansion, targeting about 1,750 branches by 2030 and focusing growth efforts in the Southeast, Texas, Arizona and California. Piper Sandler has reiterated an Overweight rating on Fifth Third and set a $57.00 price target, noting positive sentiment among former Comerica employees. In addition, the company appointed three former Comerica directors to its board, bringing the total number of directors to 16.


Bottom line

The SEC filing details a sequence of insider transactions by a senior Fifth Third executive that included market sales, SAR exercises and tax-related dispositions. Those moves coincide with material corporate actions at Fifth Third, notably the completion of the Comerica acquisition, related credit-rating upgrades and an explicit plan to broaden branch presence in targeted U.S. regions.

Risks

  • Tax-related dispositions: The filing shows 10,332 shares were sold to cover tax obligations, demonstrating that executive tax liabilities can lead to share disposals that affect outstanding holdings.
  • Execution risk for expansion: Fifth Third’s plan to expand to roughly 1,750 branches by 2030 outlines an ambitious operational target that will require execution across multiple regions (Southeast, Texas, Arizona and California).
  • Market valuation and price movement: The stock trades at $51.56 after a nearly 25% rise over the past year, indicating appreciable price movement that could affect valuation perceptions among investors.

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