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Shareholders Would Not Be Objecting To Harmonic Inc.'s (NASDAQ:HLIT) CEO Compensation And Here's Why
We have been pretty impressed with the performance at Harmonic Inc. (NASDAQ:HLIT) recently and CEO Patrick Harshman deserves a mention for their role in it. Coming up to the next AGM on 08 June 2021, shareholders would be keeping this in mind. This would also be a chance for them to hear the board review the financial results, discuss future company strategy and vote on any resolutions such as executive remuneration. In light of the great performance, we discuss the case why we think CEO compensation is not excessive.
Check out our latest analysis for Harmonic
How Does Total Compensation For Patrick Harshman Compare With Other Companies In The Industry?
According to our data, Harmonic Inc. has a market capitalization of US$717m, and paid its CEO total annual compensation worth US$3.5m over the year to December 2020. That's a fairly small increase of 3.7% over the previous year. While this analysis focuses on total compensation, it's worth acknowledging that the salary portion is lower, valued at US$534k.
On comparing similar companies from the same industry with market caps ranging from US$400m to US$1.6b, we found that the median CEO total compensation was US$3.5m. This suggests that Harmonic remunerates its CEO largely in line with the industry average. What's more, Patrick Harshman holds US$7.8m worth of shares in the company in their own name, indicating that they have a lot of skin in the game.
| Component | 2020 | 2019 | Proportion (2020) |
| Salary | US$534k | US$530k | 15% |
| Other | US$3.0m | US$2.8m | 85% |
| Total Compensation | US$3.5m | US$3.4m | 100% |
Talking in terms of the industry, salary represented approximately 23% of total compensation out of all the companies we analyzed, while other remuneration made up 77% of the pie. Harmonic sets aside a smaller share of compensation for salary, in comparison to the overall industry. If total compensation is slanted towards non-salary benefits, it indicates that CEO pay is linked to company performance.
A Look at Harmonic Inc.'s Growth Numbers
Harmonic Inc. has seen its earnings per share (EPS) increase by 44% a year over the past three years. In the last year, its revenue is up 2.9%.
Overall this is a positive result for shareholders, showing that the company has improved in recent years. It's also good to see modest revenue growth, suggesting the underlying business is healthy. Historical performance can sometimes be a good indicator on what's coming up next but if you want to peer into the company's future you might be interested in this free visualization of analyst forecasts.
Has Harmonic Inc. Been A Good Investment?
Most shareholders would probably be pleased with Harmonic Inc. for providing a total return of 67% over three years. 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.
In Summary...
Given the improved performance, shareholders may be more forgiving of CEO compensation in the upcoming AGM. Seeing that earnings growth and share price performance seems to be on the right path, the more pressing focus for shareholders at the AGM may be how the board and management plans to turn the company into a sustainably profitable one.
While it is important to pay attention to CEO remuneration, investors should also consider other elements of the business. That's why we did some digging and identified 1 warning sign for Harmonic that you should be aware of before investing.
Important note: Harmonic 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.
When trading Harmonic or any other investment, use the platform considered by many to be the Professional's Gateway to the Worlds Market, Interactive Brokers. You get the lowest-cost* trading on stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds and funds worldwide from a single integrated account. Promoted
Valuation is complex, but we're here to simplify it.
Discover if Harmonic might be undervalued or overvalued with our detailed analysis, featuring fair value estimates, potential risks, dividends, insider trades, and its financial condition.
Access Free AnalysisThis 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.
*Interactive Brokers Rated Lowest Cost Broker by StockBrokers.com Annual Online Review 2020
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
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About NasdaqGS:HLIT
Harmonic
Provides broadband access solutions worldwide.
Flawless balance sheet with moderate growth potential.
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Trending Discussion
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anthony_x0j2w on Platform Group SE KGaA ·
Hello,(I am a shareholder).I spent the summer investigating in whatever I was able to find in the press, the trustee, or legal, and comparing it to FS Benner's declaration/transcripts:press: MM has a tendancy to use facts, modify them and turn them the way they want: 100% of their claims against TPG0 is traçable factually, 80% is flawed and interpreted. Example are numerous: 11M loans banks to be paid seems right, but it has not been an issue at all, it has been paid in full. (and it happens all the time in every business...); the previous HR becoming a financial director in the article herself being attacked by TPG on the legal side; the wrong address of curator (if truly announced by TPG).Trustee: according to my research (which can be incomplete) no communication to the Nordic trustee (hereby, bond holders) has been done on a, indebtedness (late payment) > 1M€, which is their obligation by contract (clause 14.d - https://corporate.the-platform-group.com/bond/) => this is a sign of a huge lie and fraud, or the sign that there is no indebtedness > 1M€ over the whole TPG group.Legal: still awaiting for an answer, probable that I won't get it.VALUATIONYou can spent hours working the fundamentals, if they're flawed...the thesis falls.Anyway, I always substracts the badwill (that I consider non-current - you have it in the CFS) & non-controlling interests from my valuation:Earnings ~22MFCF ~40M€The financial statements are not the issue here, we are more on an cheap option on the sincerity of the accounts that a real valuation. Unfortunately, these are unverifiable elements, hence the low price./!\ Careful:the accounts are consolidated and skip the subsidiaries issues...Careful with the business model: TPG0 is a financial holding that acquire subsidiaries, hold the debt, and has no operations. 100% of the Cash Flow comes from subs' dividends => it is a risk here, more a plumber risk than an operational one, but nevertheless...The auditor is too small, and managed by the same firm than before, with 140K€/year commission => it's too low, nobody external really reviewed what Benner and his team are doing internallycapital increase do not go through the CFS, but through change in equity AND equity in the BSIf the equity stays low too long, the WACC increase will be unbearable (I have a 30% global, with a 118% on equity): diluting is expensive => TPG machine can stay broken for a while.Most of the people I talk with never saw this, while this is ESSENTIAL to Benner's business model.SEVERAL EVENTS THAT COULD CHANGE:AEP is being audited by KPMG: if Benner plays the "we will propose KPMG to our shareholders BEOY", this can increase the trust in him significantly/KPMG (or other) to validate the 2026 IFRS accounts & having a word on HGB's: though still consolidated, at least we'll know...AEP being eventually acquired: while it carries a high integration risk due to its size, they talked about it so many times, that trust goes with it.Without this combination of event, the equity is doomed to stay at this level, IMO.Do not forget to also follow the bond: with TPG's announced safe harbor plan for buyback (25% of daily exchange), it is also interesting to check this illiquid and retail market: https://live.deutsche-boerse.com/bond/no0013256834-the-platform-group-ag-8-875-24-28?mic=XFRA
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Constantin_Mar on Platform Group SE KGaA ·
Quite a lot of speculation presented as if it were evidence.You are combining alleged payment disputes, alleged bank actions, legal disputes with journalists and other unverified claims to imply that TPG’s financial reporting is somehow unreliable or that the company is approaching insolvency. That’s a very serious conclusion, but the evidence you’ve presented doesn’t establish it.TPG’s financial statements, share count, debt, cash flow and acquisitions can all be checked against official filings and corporate documents. That’s called due diligence. Repeating allegations and then pointing to a low P/E doesn’t prove anything.In fact, the P/E below 1 is precisely the reason the underlying numbers need to be investigated rather than dismissed. If you have documentary evidence that TPG’s reported figures are false, that banks actually cancelled the alleged facilities, or that the company is insolvent, publish the documents and numbers.Otherwise, this reads less like analysis and more like an attempt to create fear and selling pressure around a micro-cap stock.Claims require evidence. Allegations are not evidence.
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