| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="windows-1252"?> |
<ownershipDocument> |
| <schemaVersion> X0206 </schemaVersion> |
| <documentType> 3 </documentType> |
| <periodOfReport> 2020-01-06 </periodOfReport> |
| <noSecuritiesOwned> 0 </noSecuritiesOwned> |
| <issuer> |
| | <issuerCik> 0001064728 </issuerCik> |
| | <issuerName> PEABODY ENERGY CORP </issuerName> |
| | <issuerTradingSymbol> BTU </issuerTradingSymbol> |
| | </issuer> |
| <reportingOwner> |
| | <reportingOwnerId> |
| | | <rptOwnerCik> 0001577048 </rptOwnerCik> |
| | | <rptOwnerName> Spurbeck Mark </rptOwnerName> |
| | | </reportingOwnerId> |
| | <reportingOwnerAddress> |
| | | <rptOwnerStreet1> C/O CORPORATE SECRETARY, PEABODY ENERGY </rptOwnerStreet1> |
| | | <rptOwnerStreet2> 701 MARKET STREET </rptOwnerStreet2> |
| | | <rptOwnerCity> ST. LOUIS </rptOwnerCity> |
| | | <rptOwnerState> MO </rptOwnerState> |
| | | <rptOwnerZipCode> 63101 </rptOwnerZipCode> |
| | | <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription> |
| | | </reportingOwnerAddress> |
| | <reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | | <isDirector> 0 </isDirector> |
| | | <isOfficer> 1 </isOfficer> |
| | | <isTenPercentOwner> 0 </isTenPercentOwner> |
| | | <isOther> 0 </isOther> |
| | | <officerTitle> SVP and Interim CFO </officerTitle> |
| | | <otherText></otherText> |
| | | </reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | </reportingOwner> |
| <nonDerivativeTable> |
| | <nonDerivativeHolding> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Common Stock </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 32463 </value> |
| <footnoteId id="F1"/> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </nonDerivativeHolding> |
| | </nonDerivativeTable> |
| <derivativeTable></derivativeTable> |
| <footnotes> |
| | <footnote id="F1"> Includes (i) restricted stock units ("RSUs") that vest on various dates between April 2, 2020 and January 2, 2023 and (ii) exempt dividend equivalents on prior RSU awards. </footnote> |
| | </footnotes> |
| <ownerSignature> |
| | <signatureName> /s/ Eric R. Waller, attorney-in-fact </signatureName> |
| | <signatureDate> 2020-01-14 </signatureDate> |
| | </ownerSignature> |
| </ownershipDocument> |