Is SMM’s CEO overpaid relative to the market?

Even though one size does not fit all, since compensation should be tailored to the specific company and market, we can gauge a high-level benchmark to see if SMM is an outlier. This exercise helps investors ask the right question about Konopelky’s incentive alignment. Typically, a Canadian small-cap is worth around $345M, creates earnings of $24M, and pays its CEO at roughly $770,000 per annum. Usually I would use earnings and market cap to account for variations in performance, however, SMM’s negative earnings lower the usefulness of my formula. Analyzing the range of remuneration for small-cap executives, it seems like Konopelky is paid aptly compared to those in similar-sized companies. Putting everything together, although SMM is loss-making, it seems like the CEO’s pay is reflective of the appropriate level.

What this means for you:

Are you a shareholder? You can breathe easy knowing that shareholder funds aren’t being used to overpay SMM’s CEO. However, on the flipside, you should ask whether Konopelky is appropriately remunerated on the basis of retention. Its important for shareholders to be active in voting governance decisions, as board members are only representatives of investors’ voices. To find out more about SMM’s governance, look through our infographic report of the company’s board and management.

Are you a potential investor? In order to determine whether or not you should invest in SMM, your thesis should be built on fundamentals. Even though CEO pay isn’t technically a key concern, it could serve as an indication as to how board members align incentives and how they think about setting policies. These issues directly impacts how SMM makes money, and factors impacting your return on investment. To research more about these fundamentals, I recommend you check out our simple infographic report on SMM’s financial metrics.