UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

February 26, 2016 (February 24, 2016)

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 713-346-7500

(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:

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

On February 24, 2016, National Oilwell Varco, Inc. (the “Company”) granted the following stock options, restricted stock awards and performance awards to its named executive officers:

The Stock Options were granted at a price equal to the closing trading price of the Company’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on February 24, 2016 ($28.24 per share). Each of such options has a term of 10 years and vests in three equal annual installments commencing on the first anniversary of the date of grant. If an employee dies while in the employ of the Company, the employee’s estate may exercise the vested options at any time within 10 years from the date of grant.

The Restricted Stock Awards granted by the Company shall vest in three equal annual installments commencing on the first anniversary of the date of grant, provided that such executive officer remains continuously employed with the Company during such time period.

The Performance Awards can be earned by the executives only if the percentile ranking of the Company’s Total Shareholder Return (“TRS”) as measured against the TSR of the constituent members of the OSX Index over a three-year performance period, exceeds certain levels. The following table summarizes the payout levels on the TSR Award based on the relative performance of the Company’s TSR:

Results falling between the stated thresholds of minimum, target and maximum will result in an interpolated, or sliding scale, payout.

The foregoing description of the stock options, restricted stock awards and performance awards is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Company’s Long-Term Incentive Plan and the form of NOV Employee Nonqualified Stock Option Grant Agreement, the form of NOV Restricted Stock Agreement and the form of NOV Performance Award Agreement, which are attached to this Current Report as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

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.

Index to Exhibits