Insider Trading February 18, 2026

WEC Energy Director Klappa Exercises Options, Sells $3.47M in Stock Amid Mixed Quarterly Results

Director exercised 30,000 options and sold 30,000 shares; company reported Q4 2025 EPS miss but revenue beat and updated guidance for 2026

By Ajmal Hussain WEC
WEC Energy Director Klappa Exercises Options, Sells $3.47M in Stock Amid Mixed Quarterly Results
WEC

Gale E. Klappa, a director at WEC Energy Group, exercised options to acquire 30,000 shares and sold 30,000 shares of common stock in mid-February 2026 for roughly $3.47 million. The transactions were disclosed in a Form 4 filing. Separately, WEC Energy reported fourth-quarter 2025 results that included an EPS shortfall relative to estimates but a revenue beat, prompting analyst firms to maintain bullish ratings and adjust targets while the company set its 2026 guidance.

Key Points

  • Director Gale E. Klappa exercised 30,000 options at $68.175 and sold 30,000 shares for approximately $3.47 million on Feb. 13 and 17, 2026.
  • WEC Energy reported Q4 2025 EPS of $0.97 (below $1.38 estimate) and revenue of $2.54 billion (12.89% above forecasts); full-year 2025 EPS was $5.27.
  • Scotiabank and Mizuho maintained Outperform ratings; Mizuho raised its price target from $117 to $121. Company set 2026 EPS guidance at $5.51-$5.61 and expects EPS CAGR of 6.5%-7% for the year, with long-term growth of 7%-8%.

Director transactions disclosed

Gale E. Klappa, serving on the board of WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC), disclosed in a Form 4 filing that he exercised options to acquire 30,000 shares of the company’s common stock at an exercise price of $68.175 per share, representing a total cost of $2,045,250. Around the same time, Klappa sold 30,000 shares on February 13 and February 17, 2026, for aggregate proceeds of approximately $3.47 million. The sale prices reported ranged between $115.3818 and $116.55 per share.

Post-transaction holdings

After completing the option exercise and the share sales, Klappa is listed as directly owning 276,600 shares of WEC Energy Group common stock. In addition to this direct ownership, the Form 4 indicates an indirect holding of 4,106.91 shares through the company’s Employee Retirement Savings Plan (ERSP).

Company quarterly results and analyst reaction

WEC Energy released its fourth-quarter 2025 financials showing diluted earnings per share of $0.97, which fell short of consensus expectations of $1.38. Revenue for the quarter came in at $2.54 billion, a figure the company reported as 12.89% higher than forecasts. For the full year 2025, WEC Energy reported EPS of $5.27, a result described as slightly above Street estimates.

Following the results, Scotiabank reiterated its Sector Outperform rating on the stock, pointing to WEC Energy’s history of exceeding earnings guidance. In its commentary, the bank noted that the company has surpassed original EPS guidance midpoints for 22 consecutive years. Mizuho likewise kept an Outperform rating and raised its price target on the stock from $117 to $121.

Guidance and growth outlook

WEC Energy provided initial guidance for 2026 with an EPS range of $5.51 to $5.61. The company also outlined a forecasted EPS compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5%-7% for the coming year, and set longer-term EPS growth expectations in the range of 7%-8%.

These recent developments reflect ongoing investor interest and confidence in WEC Energy’s future growth potential.


Key takeaways

  • Director Gale E. Klappa exercised 30,000 options at $68.175 and sold 30,000 shares for about $3.47 million in mid-February 2026.
  • WEC Energy posted Q4 2025 EPS of $0.97 (miss vs $1.38) and revenue of $2.54 billion (beat by 12.89%).
  • Analysts from Scotiabank and Mizuho maintained Outperform ratings; Mizuho raised its price target from $117 to $121.

Risks and uncertainties

  • Earnings volatility - The company reported a quarterly EPS shortfall versus expectations, illustrating potential variability in near-term profitability that could affect investor sentiment.
  • Market perception of insider activity - The director’s sale and option exercise are factual events; how market participants interpret such transactions can introduce uncertainty into equity demand in the short term.
  • Guidance sensitivity - The company’s 2026 guidance range and growth forecasts set expectations that, if unmet, could influence analyst views and share performance.

Risks

  • Quarterly EPS missed expectations, indicating potential near-term earnings volatility that may impact investor confidence - impacts energy and utilities sector.
  • Insider option exercise followed by share sales could be interpreted variably by the market, creating short-term equity demand uncertainty - impacts WEC Energy's stock liquidity and investor sentiment.
  • Future performance is dependent on meeting the company’s 2026 guidance and projected EPS growth rates; failure to meet these targets could prompt analyst revisions - impacts equity valuation in the utilities sector.

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