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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="windows-1252"?> |
<ownershipDocument> |
| <schemaVersion> X0306 </schemaVersion> |
| <documentType> 4 </documentType> |
| <periodOfReport> 2020-07-01 </periodOfReport> |
| <notSubjectToSection16> 0 </notSubjectToSection16> |
| <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> EVP and CFO </officerTitle> |
| | | <otherText></otherText> |
| | | </reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | </reportingOwner> |
| <nonDerivativeTable> |
| | <nonDerivativeTransaction> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Common Stock </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <transactionDate> |
| <value> 2020-07-01 </value> |
| </transactionDate> |
| | | <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate> |
| | | <transactionCoding> |
| <transactionFormType> 4 </transactionFormType> |
| <transactionCode> A </transactionCode> |
| <equitySwapInvolved> 0 </equitySwapInvolved> |
| </transactionCoding> |
| | | <transactionAmounts> |
| <transactionShares> |
| <value> 27200 </value> |
| <footnoteId id="F1"/> |
| </transactionShares> |
| <transactionPricePerShare> |
| <value> 0.00 </value> |
| </transactionPricePerShare> |
| <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| <value> A </value> |
| </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| </transactionAmounts> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 72475 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </nonDerivativeTransaction> |
| | </nonDerivativeTable> |
| <derivativeTable></derivativeTable> |
| <footnotes> |
| | <footnote id="F1"> Represent restricted stock units ("RSU") that will vest in three installments, with the first vesting of 10,880 RSUs to occur July 1, 2021, one year from the date of grant, the second vesting of 5,440 RSUs to occur on January 2, 2022, and the third vesting of 10,880 RSUs to occur on January 2, 2023, subject to the executive officer's continued employment on each applicable vesting date. The RSUs will become fully vested upon a termination of employment due to the executive officer's death or disability. </footnote> |
| | </footnotes> |
| <ownerSignature> |
| | <signatureName> /s/ Eric R. Waller, attorney-in-fact </signatureName> |
| | <signatureDate> 2020-07-02 </signatureDate> |
| | </ownerSignature> |
| </ownershipDocument> |