Shareholder Vote

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC 20549   Form 8-K   CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934   Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): May 6, 2026   The Eastern Company (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)   Connecticut   001-35383   06-0330020 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)   (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)   3 Enterprise Drive , Suite 408 , Shelton , Connecticut 06484 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)   ( 203 ) 729-2255 (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)   Not Applicable (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)   Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:   Title of Each Class   Trading Symbol   Name of each exchange on which registered Common Stock, No Par Value   EML   NASDAQ Global Market   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:   ☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)   ☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)   ☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))   ☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))   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 5.07. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS   On May 6, 2026, The Eastern Company (the “Company”) held its 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”).  At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s shareholders voted on the following three proposals and cast their votes as follows:   FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN/ WITHHELD 1) Election of Directors Election of Frederick D. DiSanto as a director for a one-year term expiring in the year 2027: 4,444,777 140,984 34,727 Election of John W. Everets as a director for a one-year term expiring in the year 2027: 4,527,468 58,293 34,727 Election of Chan Galbato as a director for a one-year term expiring in the year 2027: 4,556,213 29,605 34,670   Election of James Mitarotonda as a director for a one-year term expiring in the year 2027: 4,272,743 324,931 22,814 Election of Peggy B. Scott as a director for a one-year term expiring in the year 2027: 4,547,281 60,520 12,687 Election of Ryan A. Schroeder as a director for a one-year term expiring in the year 2027: 4,062,299 535,402 22,787 2) Approve, on an advisory basis the compensation of the named executive officers. 4,502,006 101,751 16,731 3) Ratification of the appointment of Fiondella, Milone & LaSaracina LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the 2026 fiscal year. 5,419,010 120,397 3,599     2     ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS   (d) Exhibits   Exhibit No.   Exhibit Description       104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document)     3     SIGNATURES                   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.       The Eastern Company         Date: May 7, 2026 By: /s/ Nicholas Vlahos     Nicholas Vlahos       Chief Financial Officer               4