Patrick W. Smith, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Axon Enterprise, Inc. (NASDAQ:AXON), filed a statement of changes in beneficial ownership on August 17, 2026, reporting the acquisition of 97,015 shares of common stock on August 16, 2026.

Key Highlights

  • Shares acquired: Patrick W. Smith received 97,015 shares of Axon Enterprise common stock at a price of $0.
  • Award source: The shares relate to performance-based restricted stock units granted on December 22, 2023, under the 2024 CEO Performance Award.
  • Performance milestone: The Compensation Committee certified achievement of the fourth tranche performance conditions on August 16, 2026.
  • Vesting date: The units are scheduled to vest on December 31, 2029, subject to continued employment through that date.
  • Post-transaction ownership: Following the reported transaction, Smith directly holds 3,128,012 shares of Axon Enterprise common stock.
  • Holding period requirement: Vested shares in each tranche are subject to a minimum holding period until the earlier of December 31, 2030 or the date a subsequent tranche vests, excluding shares withheld for taxes.

Axon Enterprise CEO Performance Award: Fourth Tranche Certified

According to the filing, Patrick W. Smith, who serves as both Chief Executive Officer and Director of Axon Enterprise, Inc., the maker of public safety technology products including conducted energy devices and digital evidence management systems, received 97,015 shares of common stock on August 16, 2026. The transaction carried a code of "A" (acquisition) and was recorded at a price of $0, reflecting the nature of a performance-based equity grant rather than an open-market purchase.

The filing explains that the shares originated from performance-based restricted stock units originally granted on December 22, 2023, as part of the 2024 CEO Performance Award. The Compensation Committee of Axon Enterprise's board determined and certified that the performance conditions for the fourth tranche of that award had been satisfied as of August 16, 2026. Despite the certification occurring on that date, the filing discloses that the units will not actually vest until December 31, 2029, and that continued employment through that date is required for vesting to occur.

The filing further notes that once each tranche vests, the applicable shares are subject to a minimum holding period running from the vesting date until the earlier of December 31, 2030, or the date a subsequent tranche vests. This restriction applies to all shares except those withheld to cover tax obligations. Following the reported transaction, Smith's direct beneficial ownership in Axon Enterprise common stock stands at 3,128,012 shares, as disclosed in the filing. The document was signed by Isaiah Fields as Attorney-in-Fact on behalf of Patrick W. Smith.

What Was Disclosed

The filing reported Axon Enterprise CEO Patrick W. Smith's acquisition of 97,015 shares of common stock at $0 under the 2024 CEO Performance Award, with the fourth tranche certified by the Compensation Committee on August 16, 2026, and vesting scheduled for December 31, 2029.