We Discuss Why K+S Aktiengesellschaft's (ETR:SDF) CEO Compensation May Be Closely Reviewed

Key Insights

• K+S' Annual General Meeting to take place on 14th of May
• CEO Burkhard Lohr's total compensation includes salary of €962.2k
• The overall pay is 32% above the industry average
• K+S' three-year loss to shareholders was 41% while its EPS was down 89% over the past three years

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Shareholders will probably not be too impressed with the underwhelming results at K+S Aktiengesellschaft (ETR:SDF) recently. Shareholders will be interested in what the board will have to say about turning performance around at the next AGM on 14th of May. They will also get a chance to influence managerial decision-making through voting on resolutions such as executive remuneration, which may impact firm value in the future. From our analysis, we think CEO compensation may need a review in light of the recent performance.

Check out our latest analysis for K+S

Comparing K+S Aktiengesellschaft's CEO Compensation With The Industry

According to our data, K+S Aktiengesellschaft has a market capitalization of €2.8b, and paid its CEO total annual compensation worth €2.7m over the year to December 2024. We note that's an increase of 14% above last year. We think total compensation is more important but our data shows that the CEO salary is lower, at €962k.

For comparison, other companies in the German Chemicals industry with market capitalizations ranging between €1.8b and €5.7b had a median total CEO compensation of €2.1m. Accordingly, our analysis reveals that K+S Aktiengesellschaft pays Burkhard Lohr north of the industry median.

Component	2024	2023	Proportion (2024)
Salary	€962k	€849k	35%
Other	€1.8m	€1.6m	65%
Total Compensation	€2.7m	€2.4m	100%

Speaking on an industry level, nearly 31% of total compensation represents salary, while the remainder of 69% is other remuneration. K+S pays out 35% of remuneration in the form of a salary, significantly higher than the industry average. It's important to note that a slant towards non-salary compensation suggests that total pay is tied to the company's performance.

K+S Aktiengesellschaft's Growth

K+S Aktiengesellschaft has reduced its earnings per share by 89% a year over the last three years. Its revenue is down 5.7% over the previous year.

The decline in EPS is a bit concerning. This is compounded by the fact revenue is actually down on last year. It's hard to argue the company is firing on all cylinders, so shareholders might be averse to high CEO remuneration. Moving away from current form for a second, it could be important to check this free visual depiction of what analysts expect for the future.

Has K+S Aktiengesellschaft Been A Good Investment?

The return of -41% over three years would not have pleased K+S Aktiengesellschaft shareholders. This suggests it would be unwise for the company to pay the CEO too generously.

To Conclude...

Given that shareholders haven't seen any positive returns on their investment, not to mention the lack of earnings growth, this may suggest that few of them would be willing to award the CEO with a pay rise. At the upcoming AGM, management will get a chance to explain how they plan to get the business back on track and address the concerns from investors.

Shareholders may want to check for free if K+S insiders are buying or selling shares.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a different set of stocks. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

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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.