Does Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:LIND) CEO Salary Compare Well With Others?
In 2015 Sven-Olof Lindblad was appointed CEO of Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:LIND). This report will, first, examine the CEO compensation levels in comparison to CEO compensation at companies of similar size. Next, we'll consider growth that the business demonstrates. And finally - as a second measure of performance - we will look at the returns shareholders have received over the last few years. This method should give us information to assess how appropriately the company pays the CEO.
See our latest analysis for Lindblad Expeditions Holdings
How Does Sven-Olof Lindblad's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies?
At the time of writing, our data says that Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. has a market cap of US$685m, and reported total annual CEO compensation of US$1.7m for the year to December 2018. While this analysis focuses on total compensation, it's worth noting the salary is lower, valued at US$500k. We note that more than half of the total compensation is not the salary; and performance requirements may apply to this non-salary portion. We looked at a group of companies with market capitalizations from US$400m to US$1.6b, and the median CEO total compensation was US$2.5m.
This would give shareholders a good impression of the company, since most similar size companies have to pay more, leaving less for shareholders. However, before we heap on the praise, we should delve deeper to understand business performance.
You can see, below, how CEO compensation at Lindblad Expeditions Holdings has changed over time.
Is Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. Growing?
On average over the last three years, Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. has grown earnings per share (EPS) by 54% each year (using a line of best fit). Its revenue is up 12% over last year.
This shows that the company has improved itself over the last few years. Good news for shareholders. It's a real positive to see this sort of growth in a single year. That suggests a healthy and growing business. Shareholders might be interested in this free visualization of analyst forecasts.
Has Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. Been A Good Investment?
I think that the total shareholder return of 54%, over three years, would leave most Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. shareholders smiling. This strong performance might mean some shareholders don't mind if the CEO were to be paid more than is normal for a company of its size.
In Summary...
It appears that Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. remunerates its CEO below most similar sized companies.
Since the business is growing, many would argue this suggests the pay is modest. The strong history of shareholder returns might even have some thinking that Sven-Olof Lindblad deserves a raise! It is relatively rare to see a modestly paid CEO when performance is so impressive. But it is even better if company insiders are also buying shares with their own money. Whatever your view on compensation, you might want to check if insiders are buying or selling Lindblad Expeditions Holdings shares (free trial).
If you want to buy a stock that is better than Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, this free list of high return, low debt companies is a great place to look.
If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. 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. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.
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