- Hong Kong
- /
- Specialty Stores
- /
- SEHK:8222
Should You Worry About E Lighting Group Holdings Limited's (HKG:8222) CEO Pay?
What has been the trend in 8222's earnings?
Performance can be measured based on factors such as earnings and total shareholder return (TSR). I believe earnings is a cleaner proxy, since many factors can impact share price, and therefore, TSR. In the past year, 8222 released negative earnings of -HK$11.64M . However, this is an improvement on prior year’s loss of -HK$14.56M, which may signal a turnaround since 8222 has been loss-making for the past five years, on average, with an EPS of -HK$0.0091. Given earnings are moving the right way, CEO pay should represent Hui's valued-adding activities. Over the same period Hui's total remuneration dropped by a marginal -0.37%, to HK$1.33M. Although I couldn't find information on the breakdown of Hui's pay, if some portion were non-cash items such as stocks and options, then variabilities in 8222's share price can affect the true level of what the CEO actually collects at the end of the year.Is 8222 overpaying the CEO?
Even though there is no cookie-cutter approach, as remuneration should account for specific factors of the company and market, we can estimate a high-level yardstick to see if 8222 is an outlier. This outcome helps investors ask the right question about Hui’s incentive alignment. Generally, a SEHK small-cap is worth around HK$2.61B, creates earnings of HK$245M, and pays its CEO circa HK$3.3M per year. Typically I'd use market cap and profit as factors determining performance, however, 8222's negative earnings reduces the usefulness of my formula. Looking at the range of compensation for small-cap executives, it seems like Hui is being paid within the bounds of reasonableness. Putting everything together, although 8222 is unprofitable, it seems like the CEO’s pay is sound.
Next Steps:
In the upcoming year's AGM, shareholders should think about whether another increase in CEO pay is justified, should the board propose an executive pay raise. Will this raise take Hui's pay beyond the bound of reasonableness, or will it help in retaining the talented executive? Being proactive in governance decisions is a key part to investing, and collectively, investors can make a big difference. If you have not done so already, I highly recommend you to complete your research by taking a look at the following:
- Governance: To find out more about 8222's governance, look through our infographic report of the company's board and management.
- Financial Health: Does it have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis with six simple checks on key factors like leverage and risk.
- Other High-Growth Alternatives: Are there other high-growth stocks you could be holding instead of 8222? Explore our interactive list of stocks with large growth potential to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!
Valuation is complex, but we're here to simplify it.
Discover if E Lighting Group Holdings might be undervalued or overvalued with our detailed analysis, featuring fair value estimates, potential risks, dividends, insider trades, and its financial condition.
Access Free AnalysisHave feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Simply Wall St analyst Simply Wall St and Simply Wall St have no position in any of the companies mentioned. This article 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.
About SEHK:8222
E Lighting Group Holdings
An investment holding company, engages in the retail sale of lighting, designer label furniture, and household products in Hong Kong.
Good value with adequate balance sheet.
Market Insights
Community Narratives

