CyberArk Software Ltd.'s (NASDAQ:CYBR) CEO Compensation Is Looking A Bit Stretched At The Moment

The share price of CyberArk Software Ltd. (NASDAQ:CYBR) has increased significantly over the past few years. However, the earnings growth has not kept up with the share price momentum, suggesting that some other factors may be driving the price direction. Some of these issues will occupy shareholders' minds as the AGM rolls around on 29 June 2021. They will be able to influence managerial decisions through the exercise of their voting power on resolutions, such as CEO remuneration and other matters, which may influence future company prospects. From what we gathered, we think shareholders should be wary of raising CEO compensation until the company shows some marked improvement.

See our latest analysis for CyberArk Software

How Does Total Compensation For Udi Mokady Compare With Other Companies In The Industry?

According to our data, CyberArk Software Ltd. has a market capitalization of US$5.4b, and paid its CEO total annual compensation worth US$9.2m over the year to December 2020. That's mostly flat as compared to the prior year's compensation. While this analysis focuses on total compensation, it's worth acknowledging that the salary portion is lower, valued at US$390k.

On examining similar-sized companies in the industry with market capitalizations between US$4.0b and US$12b, we discovered that the median CEO total compensation of that group was US$6.2m. This suggests that Udi Mokady is paid more than the median for the industry.

Talking in terms of the industry, salary represented approximately 11% of total compensation out of all the companies we analyzed, while other remuneration made up 89% of the pie. A high-salary is usually a no-brainer when it comes to attracting the best executives, but CyberArk Software paid Udi Mokady a nominal salary to the CEO over the past 12 months, instead focusing on non-salary compensation. If total compensation is slanted towards non-salary benefits, it indicates that CEO pay is linked to company performance.

A Look at CyberArk Software Ltd.'s Growth Numbers

Over the last three years, CyberArk Software Ltd. has shrunk its earnings per share by 31% per year. Its revenue is up 5.8% over the last year.

Few shareholders would be pleased to read that EPS have declined. The fairly low revenue growth fails to impress given that the EPS is down. These factors suggest that the business performance wouldn't really justify a high pay packet for the CEO. Looking ahead, you might want to check this free visual report on analyst forecasts for the company's future earnings..

Has CyberArk Software Ltd. Been A Good Investment?

Boasting a total shareholder return of 113% over three years, CyberArk Software Ltd. has done well by shareholders. So they may not be at all concerned if the CEO were to be paid more than is normal for companies around the same size.

To Conclude...

CyberArk Software prefers rewarding its CEO through non-salary benefits. While the return to shareholders does look promising, it's hard to ignore the lack of earnings growth and this makes us question whether these strong returns will continue. In the upcoming AGM, shareholders will get the opportunity to discuss any concerns with the board, including those related to CEO remuneration and assess if the board's plan will likely improve performance in the future.

While it is important to pay attention to CEO remuneration, investors should also consider other elements of the business. We've identified 2 warning signs for CyberArk Software that investors should be aware of in a dynamic business environment.

Switching gears from CyberArk Software, if you're hunting for a pristine balance sheet and premium returns, this free list of high return, low debt companies is a great place to look.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. 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.
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