Insider Buying Signals in a Government‑Focused REIT

Easterly Government Properties Inc. (EGPI) saw its President & CEO, Darrell W. Crate, purchase 245 LTIP units on February 18, 2026, adding a total of 13,345 vested units to his holdings. The transaction occurs against a backdrop of modest share price movement—$23.76 on the day, up 0.71% for the week—and a market cap of roughly $1.22 billion. The buy aligns with a series of prior LTIP acquisitions by Crate, notably a $425,000 purchase in August 2025 and multiple smaller buys in early 2026, underscoring his ongoing commitment to the company’s long‑term incentive plan.

What the Trade Means for Investors

LTIP units are essentially a form of deferred compensation tied to performance milestones; they are not publicly tradable and carry no immediate cash value. Crate’s continued accumulation therefore signals confidence in the company’s future performance metrics and the likelihood that the performance vesting hurdles—measured from Jan 2023 to Dec 2025—will be met or surpassed. For investors, this can be interpreted as a bullish endorsement from the top executive, suggesting that the company’s focus on U.S. government‑leased properties is on track to deliver the expected returns. Moreover, the volume of insider buys across the executive team—CFO Marino Allison, EVP‑GC Logan Franklin, and EVP‑Dev & Acquisitions Ibe Michael—reinforces a cohesive leadership commitment to the company’s strategy.

How the Deal Fits into EGPI’s Strategic Narrative

EGPI’s asset portfolio centers on Class A commercial real estate leased to federal agencies, a niche that offers stability and low default risk. The company’s recent earnings cycle has shown steady cash flows, but the broader market has experienced a modest decline of 10.63% year‑to‑date. Crate’s LTIP purchases may be viewed as a counter‑cyclical signal, hinting that the management team believes the firm can navigate the current valuation compression and emerge with stronger lease renewals or new government contracts. The fact that the LTIP units are convertible into common units or cash—though typically only after two years—provides a potential upside for investors should the company’s share price recover or outperform the broader market.

Profile of Crate Darrell W. – A Consistent Long‑Term Investor

Crate’s insider trading history shows a pattern of substantial LTIP purchases, beginning with a sizeable 425,000‑unit acquisition in August 2025 and continuing with multiple transactions in January 2026 (109,265 and 48,685 units). His holdings have steadily grown, with the latest filing pushing his total vested units to 13,345. This consistent buying behavior—despite the lack of immediate liquidity—highlights his confidence in EGPI’s long‑term trajectory and the effectiveness of the company’s incentive architecture. In contrast to typical stock‑based compensation, Crate’s focus on LTIP units indicates a deliberate strategy to align executive interests with shareholder value over multiple years.

Conclusion

The February 18, 2026 LTIP purchase by President & CEO Crate Darrell W., alongside similar buys by senior executives, suggests a unified leadership stance that is optimistic about EGPI’s future performance in the government‑leased property space. For shareholders, the deal serves as a positive insider signal, potentially foreshadowing a rebound in the share price as the company meets its performance vesting thresholds and continues to secure high‑quality government leases.

DateOwnerTransaction TypeSharesPrice per ShareSecurity
2026-02-18Crate Darrell W (President & CEO)Buy245.00N/ALTIP Units
2026-02-18Marino Allison E. (EVP, CFO)Buy40.00N/ALTIP Units
2026-02-18Logan Franklin V. (EVP, GC & Secretary)Buy19.00N/ALTIP Units
2026-02-18Ibe Michael P. (EVP - Dev & Acquisitions)Buy245.00N/ALTIP Units