Shareholders May Be More Conservative With Barry Callebaut AG's (VTX:BARN) CEO Compensation For Now

Key Insights

• Barry Callebaut will host its Annual General Meeting on 10th of December
• CEO Peter Feld's total compensation includes salary of CHF1.60m
• The total compensation is 71% higher than the average for the industry
• Barry Callebaut's EPS declined by 20% over the past three years while total shareholder loss over the past three years was 28%

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Shareholders of Barry Callebaut AG (VTX:BARN) will have been dismayed by the negative share price return over the last three years. In addition, the company's per-share earnings growth is not looking good, despite growing revenues. In light of this performance, shareholders will have a chance to question the board in the upcoming AGM on 10th of December, where they can impact on future company performance by voting on resolutions, including executive compensation. Here's our take on why we think shareholders might be hesitant about approving a raise at the moment.

View our latest analysis for Barry Callebaut

How Does Total Compensation For Peter Feld Compare With Other Companies In The Industry?

Our data indicates that Barry Callebaut AG has a market capitalization of CHF6.7b, and total annual CEO compensation was reported as CHF4.8m for the year to August 2025. Notably, that's a decrease of 19% over the year before. While we always look at total compensation first, our analysis shows that the salary component is less, at CHF1.6m.

For comparison, other companies in the Swiss Food industry with market capitalizations ranging between CHF3.2b and CHF9.6b had a median total CEO compensation of CHF2.8m. Accordingly, our analysis reveals that Barry Callebaut AG pays Peter Feld north of the industry median. Furthermore, Peter Feld directly owns CHF3.3m worth of shares in the company.

On an industry level, around 33% of total compensation represents salary and 67% is other remuneration. Although there is a difference in how total compensation is set, Barry Callebaut more or less reflects the market in terms of setting the salary. If non-salary compensation dominates total pay, it's an indicator that the executive's salary is tied to company performance.

Barry Callebaut AG's Growth

Over the last three years, Barry Callebaut AG has shrunk its earnings per share by 20% per year. Its revenue is up 42% over the last year.

The decrease in EPS could be a concern for some investors. On the other hand, the strong revenue growth suggests the business is growing. In conclusion we can't form a strong opinion about business performance yet; but it's one worth watching. Looking ahead, you might want to check this free visual report on analyst forecasts for the company's future earnings..

Has Barry Callebaut AG Been A Good Investment?

With a three year total loss of 28% for the shareholders, Barry Callebaut AG would certainly have some dissatisfied shareholders. This suggests it would be unwise for the company to pay the CEO too generously.

In Summary...

The returns to shareholders is disappointing along with lack of earnings growth, which goes some way in explaining the poor returns. Shareholders will get the chance at the upcoming AGM to question the board on key matters, such as CEO remuneration or any other issues they might have and revisit their investment thesis with regards to the company.

It is always advisable to analyse CEO pay, along with performing a thorough analysis of the company's key performance areas. In our study, we found 5 warning signs for Barry Callebaut you should be aware of, and 1 of them can't be ignored.

Important note: Barry Callebaut is an exciting stock, but we understand investors may be looking for an unencumbered balance sheet and blockbuster returns. You might find something better in this list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.