An Analysis of Net-Outcome Contracting with Applications to Equity-Based Compensation
49 Pages Posted: 8 Aug 2017 Last revised: 23 Jul 2021
Date Written: July 19, 2021
Abstract
Options, restricted stock, bonuses tied to total shareholder return, and similar equity-based compensation contracts stipulate payments that depend on stock price. Any such contract is a function of shareholder value net of the compensation payment, because stock price (1) is proportional to this net value or “net outcome” and (2) anticipates compensation-related payments and dilution. The net outcome, in turn, is reduced by the payment and so depends on the contract. Standard moral hazard analyses, wherein contractual payments are based on the gross outcome before any payment to the agent, overlook this dependency. We characterize the optimal net-outcome contract, describe its shape and pay-for-performance sensitivity, contrast it to the optimal gross-outcome contract, and discuss implications for equity-based compensation arrangements.
Keywords: dilution, equity-based compensation, moral hazard, team compensation, optimal contracting, pay-for-performance sensitivity, security holdings, stock options
JEL Classification: D86, J33, M41
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation