Sec Form 4 Filing - Bunker Derek J @ CareTrust REIT, Inc. - 2026-01-02

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0287 Expires: November 30, 2011 Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Bunker Derek J 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol CareTrust REIT, Inc. [ CTRE] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) CFO and Treasurer (Last) (First) (Middle) 24901 DANA POINT HARBOR DR, SUITE A200 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 01/02/2026 (Street) DANA POINT, CA92629 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares LTIP Units ( 1 ) 01/02/2026 A 11,145 ( 2 ) ( 1 )( 2 ) ( 1 ) Common Stock 11,145 ( 1 ) 11,145 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Bunker Derek J 24901 DANA POINT HARBOR DR, SUITE A200 DANA POINT, CA92629 CFO and Treasurer Signatures /s/ Derek Bunker 01/06/2026 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )LTIP Units are a class of units of partnership interests in CTR Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "Operating Partnership"), the operating subsidiary of the Issuer, designated as LTIP Units ("LTIP Units") intended to qualify as profits interests for U.S. federal income tax purposes. LTIP Units do not have an expiration date. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership (as amended, the "Amended Operating Partnership Agreement"), vested LTIP Units that have achieved specified capital account thresholds may be converted into common unit partnership interests in the Operating Partnership, which may thereafter be redeemed for cash or, at the Issuer's election, shares of the Issuer's common stock pursuant to the existing redemption provisions of the Amended Operating Partnership Agreement. ( 2 )Represents the time-based portion of the annual equity grant to the Reporting Person, which the Reporting Person has elected to receive in LTIP Units. The LTIP Units vest in three equal annual installments beginning on January 31, 2027, subject to the Reporting Person's continued service through the vesting date.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.