CAP periodically publishes a study on compensation for Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) relative to Chief Executive Officers (CEOs). Our analysis for fiscal 2020 compensation is based on a sample of 135 companies with median revenue of $12 billion. Additional information on criteria used to develop the sample is included in the Appendix.

Study Highlights

Study Results

Salaries

In 2020, the salary increase prevalence declined by about 10% from historical practice. We believe the COVID-19 pandemic was the main factor for the decrease. However, salary increases were still quite prevalent for CEOs and CFOs, at 44% and 55% of the sample, respectively. As indicated in the charts below, median 2020 salary increases were 2.7% for CFOs (or 4.3% for those receiving an increase) and 0% for CEOs (or 4.1% for those receiving an increase).

2020 Salary Increases

Changes in Actual Pay Levels

The actual total cash compensation for 2020 was generally flat among our sample with only CFOs seeing a minor salary increase in salary levels. On a total compensation basis (including long-term incentive awards), the median rate of increase continued to trend lower for CEOs and was generally flat for CFOs (3.3% for CEOs and 4.1% for CFOs).

As indicated above, the sample had approximately the same number of companies with bonus increases (64 CFOs and 60 CEOs) and decreases (65 CFOs and 60 CEOs). A small number of companies had the same exact payout for two straight years (6 CFOs and 15 CEOs).

Bonus payouts were generally aligned with performance outcomes for most companies. For example, of the companies with a bonus decrease, over 60% had a decrease in operating income during 2020 and over 80% of companies with a bonus increase had higher operating income during the year. Bonus payouts were also aligned to revenue and TSR performance for the year.

Median Total Compensation Increase by Industry1

Median total compensation increases varied by industry. In 2020, Consumer goods (Staples and Discretionary) industries and IT companies generally experienced higher compensation increases compared to other industries.

Target Pay Mix

The pay program structure for CEOs and CFOs has remained largely unchanged since 2011. CEOs continue to receive less in the form of salary and more in variable pay opportunities, especially LTI, than CFOs.

Target Bonuses

Target bonus opportunities as a percentage of salary remained unchanged for the CEOs in the sample. For CFOs, the 25th percentile increased to 90% of salary from 80% last year. We expect target bonuses will continue to remain largely unchanged.

Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Vehicle Prevalence and Mix

The use of two different vehicles to deliver LTI remains the most prevalent approach, used by almost 60% of companies. Approximately 30% of companies in the sample use all three equity vehicles (stock options, time-based stock awards, and performance plan awards).

The portion of LTI awards granted in Performance plans decreased slightly in 2020 at the expense of higher time-based awards. The stock option portion remained unchanged. Even though most of the awards in the analysis were granted before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (due to disclosure rules), the minor increase in time-based awards was expected.

Conclusion

Financial performance in 2020 fell compared to prior years. Revenue declined 1% at median and operating income increased 1% – below 2019 increases of 3% and 5%, respectively. In a typical year, performance at these levels would have likely resulted in more meaningful compensation decreases. The COVID-19 pandemic was a shock to the system with many companies evaluating the impacts of the pandemic at the end of the year and adjusting performance results for annual incentive calculations, since annual incentives are typically paid to a broader employee population than are long-term incentives. The total cash compensation outcomes for 2020 (i.e., flat bonus payouts on weakened absolute financial performance) continue to reinforce the alignment of pay outcomes with a broader view of company performance.

Since many companies made equity grants early in 2020, prior to the impact of the pandemic on the stock market, we may not see the pandemic’s impact on LTI levels until the 2021 grants are disclosed.

Appendix

Sample Screening Methodology

Based on the screening criteria below, we arrived at a sample of 135 public companies with median 2020 revenue of $12B.