Peoples Bancorp Director Smith Acquires 1,000 Common Shares in Open Market Transaction

Director's Open Market Share Purchase at $39.81 Per Share

Dwight Eric Smith, who serves as a director of Peoples Bancorp Inc., completed an open market acquisition of 1,000 common shares on July 23, 2026. The purchase was executed at a price of $39.8099 per share, according to the company's beneficial ownership disclosure filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The transaction represents a direct acquisition of equity, with Smith holding the shares in his own name rather than through any indirect ownership structure or trust arrangement.

The specific price of $39.8099 per share reflects the market conditions and Smith's investment decision at the time of the transaction. This acquisition occurred during the ordinary course of market activity and does not appear to have been executed under any formal trading plan or arrangement designed to comply with Rule 10b5-1 safe harbor provisions, based on the filing's disclosures.

Beneficial Ownership Position Following Transaction

Following the completion of the 1,000-share purchase, Smith's total beneficial ownership of Peoples Bancorp common stock reached approximately 10,256.1792 shares on a direct basis. This figure encompasses both shares previously held and the newly acquired shares from the July 23, 2026 transaction. The beneficial ownership calculation is material for investors tracking insider holdings and potential voting power within the organization.

The beneficial ownership position reflects securities held in direct form, meaning Smith has full legal ownership and voting rights over the shares without any intermediary or trust structure. Investors monitoring insider behavior at financial institutions often track changes in beneficial ownership positions among board members and executive officers as potential indicators of management confidence or strategic considerations regarding the company's valuation and prospects.

Insider Trading Activity at Peoples Bancorp

Insider trading disclosures provide transparency into the personal investment decisions of company executives, directors, and other officers subject to Section 16 reporting requirements. Smith's open market purchase of common stock represents the type of transaction that must be reported to the SEC within prescribed timeframes. This particular acquisition demonstrates a director's willingness to deploy personal capital into the company's equity securities, which some investors interpret as a positive signal regarding insider confidence in the business.

The timing of the purchase on July 23, 2026, and the subsequent filing on July 27, 2026, complies with standard SEC reporting procedures for insider transactions. Such disclosures are made publicly available through the SEC's EDGAR database, allowing investors to monitor the investment activities of company insiders and identify potential trends in insider buying or selling activity. The open market nature of the transaction means Smith participated in regular market trading rather than exercising any special corporate options or warrants.

Smith's Role and Section 16 Reporting Obligations

Dwight Eric Smith holds the position of director at Peoples Bancorp Inc., a designation confirmed in the beneficial ownership filing. As a director, Smith is subject to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which requires officers, directors, and principal stockholders of publicly traded companies to file statements reporting changes in beneficial ownership of the company's securities. This regulatory framework creates an important mechanism for public disclosure of insider transactions and holdings.

The filing was executed by Jason A. Silcott, serving as attorney-in-fact for Smith, and filed on July 27, 2026. The use of an attorney-in-fact represents a common administrative practice in insider trading disclosures, allowing legal representatives to execute and file the required documentation on behalf of the insider. Smith's address on file is listed as 138 Putnam Street, Marietta, Ohio 45750, United States.

Common Stock Characteristics and Voting Rights

The shares acquired in Smith's transaction are common shares of Peoples Bancorp Inc., which represent the primary class of equity securities issued by the financial institution. Common shareholders maintain certain rights including the ability to vote on matters of corporate governance and to participate in any dividends declared by the board of directors. Smith's acquisition adds to his proportional ownership stake in the company and his corresponding voting influence at shareholder meetings.

The common stock of Peoples Bancorp trades on the NASDAQ exchange under the ticker symbol PEBO. As a NASDAQ-listed security, the company is subject to applicable listing standards and disclosure requirements maintained by the exchange. The acquisition of an additional 1,000 shares positions Smith among the beneficial owners of company equity whose holdings are tracked for regulatory compliance and investor information purposes.

Transaction Classification and Filing Details

The SEC classifies the transaction using specific transaction codes to indicate the nature of the securities activity. Smith's acquisition on July 23, 2026, was coded as a purchase transaction, reflecting the straightforward nature of buying equity securities in the open market. No derivative securities or options were involved in this particular transaction, meaning Smith acquired direct ownership of fully vested common shares without any conditions or future exercise requirements.

The filing documents the transaction date as July 23, 2026, with no deemed execution date listed, indicating that the transaction executed on the date stated without any delays or settlement complications requiring adjustment. The form contains no amendments to previously filed disclosures, representing a standard new transaction report in Smith's ongoing beneficial ownership tracking with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Director Compensation and Equity Incentives

While the filing does not provide detailed commentary on Smith's motivations for the purchase, director acquisitions of company common stock through open market transactions may reflect various considerations. Directors may purchase shares as part of personal investment strategies, to increase their equity stake in line with company governance expectations, or as an expression of confidence in the financial institution's future performance and market valuation.

The price point of $39.8099 per share represents the market price prevailing on the transaction date. Investors evaluating director purchasing activity often consider whether purchases are occurring at historically high, moderate, or low valuations relative to recent trading ranges. Such analysis may inform assessments of insider sentiment regarding the company's current market positioning and intrinsic value, though purchase decisions are influenced by numerous personal financial factors beyond company-specific considerations.

Public Disclosure and Investor Information

The disclosure of Smith's transaction through regulatory filings ensures that investors and market participants have access to material information regarding insider ownership and trading activity at Peoples Bancorp. These filings are publicly available through the SEC's EDGAR electronic filing system, allowing individuals and institutions to track insider transactions, aggregate beneficial ownership positions, and identify patterns in insider activity that may be relevant to investment decision-making.

Investors may review insider trading activity as one of multiple information sources when evaluating a company's investment merits. While insider purchases can sometimes indicate confidence in future prospects, such transactions represent personal investment decisions influenced by individual circumstances and should not be viewed in isolation as definitive indicators of company performance or valuation direction. Professional investors typically integrate insider trading information with fundamental financial analysis, market conditions, and other relevant factors.

Peoples Bancorp and Regional Banking Operations

Peoples Bancorp Inc. operates as a regional financial institution, with its primary presence in Ohio. The company provides various banking services to retail and commercial customers throughout its service regions. As a NASDAQ-listed public company, Peoples Bancorp maintains ongoing reporting obligations and governance requirements that include director certification, audit committee composition, and compliance with applicable securities laws and exchange listing standards.

The company's common stock remains actively traded on the NASDAQ exchange, providing liquidity for existing shareholders and enabling new investors to acquire ownership positions. Regional banks like Peoples Bancorp typically compete in local and regional markets while adhering to federal banking regulations, capital requirements, and supervisory oversight from banking regulators. Director participation in company equity ownership through open market purchases aligns with governance practices emphasizing alignment between board members' personal financial interests and shareholder value creation.