Compensation Advisory Studio · Executive Compensation

Pay-for-Performance

Realized-pay vs peer median, paired with 3-year TSR to produce a per-NEO alignment score.

What this analysis does

Compare realized total direct compensation (base + actual STI + LTI vested) to peer median, paired with relative TSR over the same period. Output an alignment score per NEO.

Required data

Realized-pay data per NEO (last 3 years), peer-set realized-pay distribution, 3-yr cumulative TSR for company and peers.

Key outputs

Per-NEO realized pay vs peer median, TSR vs peer TSR, alignment score (Strong / Moderate / Weak), and narrative-ready commentary.

Data caveats

Realized-pay methodology varies (Equilar, ISS, FW Cook all differ). Confirm which definition the comp committee uses before locking the proxy CDA.

Advisor takeaway

Three Strong, three Moderate alignment scores; no Weak. CEO and President NA tell the cleanest stories — top-quartile pay paired with top-quartile performance.

Next recommended action

Carry the alignment narrative into the proxy CD&A — see Proxy Disclosure Support.

Company 3-yr TSR
38%
Peer median 3-yr TSR
22%
Δ vs peer
+16 pts
NEORoleRealized TDCPeer median TDCΔ vs peerAlignmentNote
M. ReyesCEO$11.40M$9.80M+16.3%StrongPay above peer median, but performance materially exceeds peers — well-aligned.
S. PatelCFO$4.65M$4.30M+8.1%StrongRoughly market pay, strong relative performance — aligned.
A. ChenCOO$4.98M$4.10M+21.5%StrongAbove peer pay, above peer performance — aligned.
L. O'BrienCTO$5.28M$4.90M+7.8%ModerateAbove peer pay; performance aligned. Consider TSR-modifier on next PSU grant.
K. SuzukiGC$3.24M$2.80M+15.7%ModeratePay above peer; no individual TSR linkage. Document scorecard rationale in proxy CDA.
R. KapoorCHRO$2.98M$2.65M+12.5%ModeratePay slightly above peer median; weakest TSR linkage in the NEO group.
J. MartinPres NA$4.12M$4.35M-5.3%StrongBelow peer pay, above peer performance — strongest P4P story.
Advisor takeaway
Medium
What we found

CHRO is the weakest P4P link — pay above peer median with no individual TSR-linked LTI metric. GC similarly has scorecard-only LTI metrics that don't include TSR or relative performance.

Why it matters

ISS Quality of Compensation analysis flags executives with no quantitative LTI performance metrics. Even strong absolute outcomes can score 'Medium concern' if the metric design doesn't link to relative performance.

Recommended action

On next LTI grant cycle, add a relative-TSR modifier (capped at ±25%) to PSU grants for CHRO and GC. Document in the CD&A narrative.

Risks

Adding TSR modifiers retroactively to in-flight PSU grants requires recipient consent and accounting re-measurement; do at next grant cycle only.

Questions to ask the client
  • Has the comp committee considered relative-TSR modifiers for non-CEO NEOs?
  • Does the company prefer 1-yr, 3-yr, or 5-yr TSR comparison windows? ISS uses 3-yr by default.
Data caveats

Realized pay = base + actual STI paid + LTI vested in period. Realizable pay (in-flight grants) is a separate disclosure topic.

Suggested next module

Open Stock Ownership Guidelines to confirm ownership-building keeps pace with pay growth.