Insider Trading March 9, 2026

Surgery Partners CFO Sells Stake to Cover Tax Withholding After Restricted Shares Vest

David Doherty sold $201,704 in stock while newly issued restricted awards vest; analysts have cut targets but maintained positive ratings

By Maya Rios SGRY
Surgery Partners CFO Sells Stake to Cover Tax Withholding After Restricted Shares Vest
SGRY

Surgery Partners CFO David T. Doherty disposed of 14,574 shares on March 6, 2026, to meet tax withholding tied to newly vested restricted stock. The sale came as the company's shares trade close to a 52-week low, after a recent weekly decline. Doherty still holds 88,803 shares after the transaction. Separately, the company expanded its ambulatory footprint with the acquisition of Preferred Vascular Group, while several brokerages lowered price targets but kept positive ratings.

Key Points

  • CFO David T. Doherty sold 14,574 shares on March 6, 2026, for $13.84 per share, totaling $201,704, to satisfy tax withholding tied to vesting restricted stock.
  • Doherty was granted 141,743 restricted shares on March 5, 2026, valued at $1,999,993 at $14.11 per share that vest over one, two and three years; he now directly owns 88,803 shares after the sale.
  • Surgery Partners expanded its ambulatory surgical center footprint by acquiring Preferred Vascular Group, adding eight centers in Georgia and Ohio; several brokerages trimmed price targets but kept Outperform or Buy ratings.

Insider transaction details

David T. Doherty, chief financial officer of Surgery Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ: SGRY), sold 14,574 shares of the company on March 6, 2026, at a price of $13.84 per share. The disposition generated proceeds of $201,704, according to a Form 4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The filing states the shares were sold to satisfy tax withholding obligations associated with the vesting of restricted stock.

After the March 6 sale, Doherty is reported to directly own 88,803 shares of Surgery Partners common stock.


Related restricted awards

The Form 4 filing also notes a separate grant on March 5, 2026. On that date, Doherty received a total of 141,743 shares of common stock at a reported price of $14.11, with a stated aggregate value of $1,999,993. Those shares represent restricted stock awards and are scheduled to vest over one-, two- and three-year periods.


Share price context

At the time of the filing, Surgery Partners shares were trading near a 52-week low of $12.25. The stock had fallen 16% over the prior week to a quoted price of $13.31.


Company financials and analyst outlook

Over the last twelve months, Surgery Partners reported a loss of $0.61 per share. Analyst estimates compiled in the report project that the company will return to profitability this year, with expected earnings of $0.62 per share. An InvestingPro analysis cited in the filing indicates the stock is currently undervalued and directs readers to further detail in the Pro Research Report.


Operational and market developments

On the operational front, Surgery Partners recently completed an acquisition of Preferred Vascular Group, a provider focused on dialysis access procedures. The transaction includes eight centers located in Georgia and Ohio and expands the companys presence in the ambulatory surgical center market related to outpatient dialysis care.


Brokerage revisions

Several investment firms have reduced their price targets for Surgery Partners while preserving positive recommendations. RBC Capital, TD Cowen, Jefferies and Benchmark all lowered targets. RBC Capital and Benchmark cited softer-than-expected guidance for 2026 as a factor. TD Cowen pointed to a roughly 6% shortfall in adjusted EBITDA-NCI results, attributing the gap to a negative insurance mix and market-specific issues. Jefferies referenced an earnings reset and a leveraged balance sheet in explaining its adjustment. Despite these revisions, each of the firms maintained an Outperform or Buy rating on the stock.


What the filings and changes indicate

The Form 4 filing makes clear the CFOs sale was executed to cover tax liabilities tied to newly vested restricted awards. The combination of management equity activity, recent M&A to broaden outpatient dialysis capabilities, and analyst target adjustments paints a picture of a company navigating near-term financial and operational headwinds while receiving continued positive endorsements from several brokerages.

Where available, figures and descriptions above reflect the amounts and explanations contained in the SEC filing and the analysts statements cited in the filing.

Risks

  • Surgery Partners trades near its 52-week low and the stock fell 16% in the prior week, indicating near-term market volatility in the healthcare services equity - relevant to equity investors and healthcare sector participants.
  • Analysts cited weaker-than-expected 2026 guidance, a roughly 6% shortfall in adjusted EBITDA-NCI driven by a negative insurance mix and market-specific issues, and a leveraged balance sheet - all highlighting operational and financial uncertainties for the company and the healthcare services sector.
  • The company reported a loss of $0.61 per share over the past twelve months, making the forecasted return to profitability (expected earnings of $0.62 per share this year) a material uncertainty for investors relying on projected earnings recovery.

More from Insider Trading

Ramaco Resources Director Disposes $305K in Class A Shares Mar 9, 2026 Cerus CFO Disposes of 83,021 Shares, Netting About $169,646 Amid Strong Q4 Results Mar 9, 2026 Saba Capital Disposes of BlackRock ECAT Shares in $2.18M Trade Mar 9, 2026 GRAIL CFO Executes $154,061 in Share Sales to Cover Tax Withholdings Mar 9, 2026 GRAIL President Sells $177,227 in Shares in Automatic Sell-to-Cover Transactions Mar 9, 2026