Research Studies

Study of 2010 Short- and Long-Term Incentive Design Criterion Among Top-200 S&P 500 Companies

This study provides a behind-the-scenes look at how incentives are being structured to connect pay and performance. Because incentive compensation comprises the bulk of executive pay packages at publicly-traded companies, boards of directors and senior management are continually searching for the right performance measures to balance rewards with both financial and operational performance as well as non-financial and individual performance.

Effects of Changes in Executive Compensation in Light of the Financial Crisis

New research shows that a decrease in short-term incentive is poorly received by shareholders, contrary to the stated mission of large institutional shareholders. Moreover, the study shows that companies with a poor past performance and profitability react stronger upon the announcement of changes in executive compensation.

2008 Study of Performance Metrics Among S&P 500 Large-Cap Stock Companies

This study provides a review of the 2009 proxies regarding choice of performance metrics, weight of long-term incentive vehicles and pay for performance curves for both short- and long-term incentive plans for 200 of the S&P 500 companies. This is a continuation of our study from last March that looked at 2007 proxies.

New Study as featured in 8/16/09 New York Times Executive Compensation Trends for 2009: Balancing Risk, Performance and Pay

In light of the economic downturn, we reviewed 191 of the largest companies of the S&P 500 Stock Index. This study reviews the changes made in 2009 by 70% of these companies.

2007 Study of Performance Metrics Among S&P 500 Large-Cap Stock Companies

The purpose of this study is to provide a resource of current short and long-term incentive plan design characteristics and company compliance with SEC disclosure rules. It is based on proxy statement disclosures for selected companies from the Standard & Poor’s large-cap stock indexes for 2006 and 2007 (as reported in 2007 and 2008).

Proxy Disclosure: Incentive Plan Performance Measures and Design StructureProxy Disclosure: Incentive Plan Performance Measures and Design Structure

With the SEC's new rules on disclosure of executive compensation practices, investors are anxious to find out whether amounts paid correspond with performance at Fortune magazine's top 300 public companies.

2007 CEO Perquisites and Supplemental Retirement Benefits Study

In light of the new disclosure requirements for perequisites circulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, James F. Reda and Associates analyzed perequisite and supplemental retirement disclosures for Chief Executive Officer's at Fortune magazine's top 150 public companies.

2006 Analysis of Change-in-Control Severance Practices

As executive pay continues to come under intense scrutiny, so do company change-in-control (CIC) programs.  This study provides an overview of the current CIC programs in Fortune magazine's top 100 companies