8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the SecuritiesExchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

January 6, 2026

LendingTree, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (704) 541-5351

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or CertainOfficers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On January 6, 2026, the board of directors of LendingTree, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Ian Smith, QuoteWizard.com, LLC’s (“QuoteWizard”) Senior Vice President, Insurance, as Chief Operating Officer of the Company. QuoteWizard is a subsidiary of LendingTree, LLC (“LendingTree”).

Ian Smith, 43, has served as the Senior Vice President of Insurance since 2023, where he led LendingTree’s insurance marketplace, driving strategy, operations, and growth across the segment. Mr. Smith is known for his operational discipline and strategic perspective. In this role, he has focused on aligning teams, technology, and execution to deliver results and support LendingTree’s continued expansion. Mr. Smith joined QuoteWizard in 2005 and has played a central role in QuoteWizard’s evolution over nearly two decades. He helped transform QuoteWizard from a fast-growing startup into one of the leading online insurance comparison platforms in the U.S. Following its acquisition by LendingTree, Mr. Smith was instrumental in integrating the business into LendingTree’s broader financial ecosystem and strengthening QuoteWizard’s position in the Insurtech space. As the Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Smith will oversee company-wide operations with a focus on driving execution, performance, and scalable growth across the business. In this role, he will partner closely with leadership teams across the organization to align strategy, operations, and customer experience, ensuring LendingTree continues to operate efficiently while advancing its long-term priorities.

Mr. Smith will receive a base salary of $400,000 per year, effective January 1, 2026, and may be entitled to an annual bonus with a target amount equal to 60% of his base salary. In addition, Mr. Smith may be entitled to receive an annual equity award at the Company’s sole discretion.

There are no family relationships between Mr. Smith and any of our directors or executive officers. Except as set forth herein, there is no arrangement or understanding between Mr. Smith and any other persons pursuant to which Mr. Smith was appointed an executive officer of the Company. There are no related party transactions involving Mr. Smith that are reportable under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: January 9, 2026

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Exhibit 99.1

LendingTree Announces Promotion of Ian Smith to Chief OperatingOfficer and Laura Nelson to Head of Insurance

CHARLOTTE, N.C., January 9, 2026 — LendingTree, Inc. (NASDAQ: TREE), the nation’s leading online financial services marketplace, today announced the promotion of Ian Smith to Chief Operating Officer. Scott Peyree previously served as Chief Operating Officer before he was appointed Chief Executive Officer following the passing of founder Doug Lebda.

Laura Nelson will step into the Head of Insurance role following Smith’s transition. The leadership appointments reflect LendingTree’s continued focus on disciplined execution, operational scale, and long-term growth.

As Chief Operating Officer, Smith will oversee day-to-day operations across LendingTree, bringing the operating rigor and discipline he established within the company’s insurance business to lending and the broader organization. Nelson will lead LendingTree’s insurance marketplace, building on its momentum and continuing to drive performance, innovation, and partner success.

“Ian has built a strong operating system within our insurance business, and this move allows him to bring that same discipline and expertise across lending and the broader organization,” said Scott Peyree, CEO of LendingTree. “Laura has been a driving force behind our sales performance, and her leadership experience and deep understanding of our partners make her the right choice to lead insurance into its next chapter.”

Smith most recently served as Senior Vice President of Insurance at LendingTree, where he led the company’s insurance business, driving strategy, operations and growth across its insurance marketplace. He joined QuoteWizard in 2005 and, over his tenure, helped transform the business from a fast-growing startup into one of the leading online insurance comparison platforms in the U.S. Following LendingTree’s acquisition of QuoteWizard, Smith played a critical role in integrating the business into LendingTree’s broader financial ecosystem and advancing the company’s position in the insurtech space.

Nelson has served as Senior Vice President of Sales, where she led revenue growth initiatives and built high-performing sales teams across the company. As Head of Insurance, she will be responsible for the overall strategy, execution and performance of LendingTree’s insurance marketplace, continuing to strengthen relationships with carriers and deliver value to consumers.

“These leadership changes reflect the strength of our internal talent and our commitment to building a scalable, high-performing organization,” Peyree added. “Ian and Laura are proven leaders, and their expanded roles position us well for continued growth.”

About LendingTree, Inc.

LendingTree, Inc. is the parent of LendingTree, LLC and several companies owned by LendingTree, LLC (collectively, "LendingTree").

LendingTree is one of the nation's largest, most experienced online financial platforms, created to give consumers the power to win financially. LendingTree provides customers with access to the best offers on loans, credit cards, insurance, and more through its network of approximately 430 financial partners. Since its founding, LendingTree has helped millions of customers obtain financing, save money, and improve their financial and credit health in their personal journeys. With a portfolio of innovative products and tools and personalized financial recommendations, LendingTree helps customers achieve everyday financial wins. LendingTree, Inc. is headquartered in Charlotte, NC.

For more information, please visit www.lendingtree.com.

Contact

press@lendingtree.com