Popular Inc. President and CEO Javier Ferrer Acquires Over 14,900 Restricted Shares in Company Stock

Executive Equity Award Details and Vesting Schedule

Javier D. Ferrer, serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of Popular, Inc., received an award of 14,952 shares of restricted common stock on July 22, 2026. The shares were granted pursuant to Popular Inc.'s Omnibus Incentive Plan, a formal equity compensation framework established by the company. According to the disclosure, these restricted shares are subject to a vesting condition, with the award scheduled to vest fully on August 31, 2027, approximately 13 months from the grant date.

Restricted stock awards represent a common form of executive compensation in the financial services industry, typically used to align management incentives with shareholder interests over an extended timeframe. The vesting schedule ensures that executives maintain a direct financial stake in the company's performance and long-term value creation. For Ferrer, the vesting structure indicates that the full benefit of these shares will be realized only upon completion of the specified holding period, provided employment conditions are maintained.

Beneficial Ownership Position Following the Transaction

Following the award of 14,952 restricted shares, Ferrer's direct beneficial ownership in Popular Inc. increased to a total of 131,478.371 shares of common stock. This figure includes shares acquired through multiple channels, reflecting different investment and compensation mechanisms. The disclosure documents that 381.731 of the beneficially owned shares were acquired through the reinvestment of dividends paid by Popular Inc., demonstrating a compounding effect of dividend reinvestment over time.

The dividend reinvestment shares were acquired in transactions exempt from Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 pursuant to Rule 16a-11 thereunder. This exemption recognizes that dividend reinvestment programs, when properly established, do not raise the same insider trading concerns as discretionary open-market purchases. Additionally, the disclosure indicates that Ferrer's wife holds 1,167 shares of Popular Inc. common stock indirectly. Ferrer expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of these spousal shares and has no investment authority over them, consistent with standard reporting conventions for immediate family holdings.

Popular Inc. Business Profile and Market Position

Popular, Inc. operates as a diversified financial services corporation with a significant presence in the banking and financial sector. The company serves customers across multiple business lines and geographic markets, with particular emphasis on its core banking operations. As a NASDAQ-listed entity trading under the ticker BPOPM, Popular Inc. is subject to comprehensive regulatory oversight and disclosure requirements, ensuring transparency regarding significant ownership changes and executive compensation arrangements.

The company's Omnibus Incentive Plan serves as the foundation for its equity-based compensation program, enabling Popular Inc. to award restricted stock, stock options, and other performance-based instruments to executives and key employees. These plans are designed to foster long-term alignment between management objectives and shareholder returns. The award to Ferrer as President and CEO reflects the company's commitment to performance-based compensation structures that extend executive vesting periods across multiple quarters, ensuring sustained commitment to the organization's strategic direction.

Executive Compensation Structure and Incentive Alignment

Equity awards represent a critical component of executive compensation frameworks at major financial institutions like Popular Inc. By granting restricted stock with extended vesting periods, the company implements a compensation model that rewards executives for maintaining or improving shareholder value over time. For a President and CEO like Ferrer, such awards constitute meaningful portions of overall compensation packages alongside base salary, performance bonuses, and other benefits.

The July 2026 award of 14,952 shares to Ferrer demonstrates the company's continued deployment of equity-based incentives as a strategic tool for executive retention and motivation. The vesting schedule extending to August 31, 2027, ensures that Ferrer retains a personal financial interest in Popular Inc.'s performance throughout a full annual and quarterly reporting cycle. This structure is common among financial services companies, where regulatory capital requirements and shareholder expectations demand executive accountability for long-term value creation.

Dividend Reinvestment and Ongoing Accumulation

The presence of 381.731 shares acquired through dividend reinvestment in Ferrer's beneficial ownership position illustrates the power of compounding returns over extended holding periods. Dividend reinvestment occurs when shareholders elect to use cash dividend payments to purchase additional shares rather than receive cash distributions. For executives at financial services companies like Popular Inc., dividend reinvestment can result in material ownership accumulation, particularly when combined with regular equity awards and long tenure.

The disclosure notes that these dividend reinvestment shares were acquired in transactions exempt from Section 16 reporting requirements under Rule 16a-11. This exemption recognizes that mechanistic dividend reinvestment does not reflect discretionary trading decisions by insiders and therefore presents minimal insider trading risk. Over time, such reinvestment mechanisms, when combined with equity awards like the 14,952 shares granted on July 22, 2026, can substantially increase an executive's total ownership stake in the company.

Regulatory Filing and Insider Transaction Reporting

The update filed on July 23, 2026, represents Ferrer's required beneficial ownership report under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Section 16 imposes reporting obligations on officers, directors, and principal shareholders of publicly traded companies, requiring disclosure of all changes in beneficial ownership within two business days of the transaction. Ferrer's filing, prepared with the assistance of Marie Reyes-Rodriguez serving as Attorney-in-fact, documents the acquisition of restricted stock and provides details regarding the vesting schedule and nature of the award.

The disclosure form contains comprehensive information required by the SEC, including the exact number of shares acquired, the transaction date, the price at which the acquisition was valued for reporting purposes, and the resulting total beneficial ownership following the transaction. The form also addresses indirect ownership arrangements, specifically noting that shares held by Ferrer's wife are not included in his beneficial ownership calculation due to his explicit disclaimer of control and authority over those assets. This transparency in insider reporting serves to inform public investors regarding the investment activities of key company leadership.

Officer Status and Leadership Responsibility

Javier D. Ferrer's role as President and Chief Executive Officer places him among the most senior executives at Popular Inc. and designates him as a reporting person subject to Section 16 obligations. As the principal executive officer, Ferrer is responsible for the strategic direction, operational management, and financial performance of the company. His decision to accept equity awards and maintain a substantial beneficial ownership position signals confidence in Popular Inc.'s value creation prospects to shareholders and market participants.

The award structure and vesting schedule reflect typical governance practices at major financial institutions, where CEO compensation is designed to balance immediate incentives with long-term shareholder value alignment. The extended vesting period for the 14,952 restricted shares ensures that Ferrer's personal financial outcomes remain closely tied to Popular Inc.'s stock performance over a meaningful timeframe. This alignment between executive compensation and shareholder returns is a fundamental principle of modern corporate governance.

Implications for Shareholder Transparency and Corporate Governance

The July 23, 2026 beneficial ownership report demonstrates Popular Inc.'s adherence to regulatory disclosure standards and transparent reporting of insider transactions. Investors and stakeholders can rely on Section 16 filings to obtain detailed, contemporaneous information regarding the investment activities of company leadership. This transparency enables informed investment decision-making and provides market participants with reliable data regarding insider confidence in the company.

The fact that Ferrer's beneficial ownership increased substantially following the restricted stock award reflects the ongoing equity compensation program at Popular Inc. and the company's commitment to performance-based executive incentives. For investors evaluating Popular Inc., such filings provide valuable context regarding management's personal financial stake in the company's success. The disclosure of both direct ownership and the existence of spousal holdings, along with the appropriate disclaimer regarding indirect interests, demonstrates rigorous adherence to reporting standards and responsible corporate governance practices.