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Subject: executive stock options

An employee stock option is a call option on the common stock of a company, issued as a form of non-cash compensation. Restrictions on the option (such as vesting and limited transferability) attempt to align the holder’s interest with those of the business’ shareholders. If the company’s stock rises, holders of options generally experience a direct financial benefit. This gives employees an incentive to behave in ways that will boost the company’s stock price.
Employee stock options are mostly offered to management as part of their executive compensation package. They may also be offered to non-executive level staff, especially by businesses that are not yet profitable, insofar as they may have few other means of compensation. Alternatively, employee-type stock options can be offered to non-employees: suppliers, consultants, lawyers and promoters for services rendered. Employee stock options are similar to warrants, which are call options issued by a company with respect to its own stock. (Wikipedia Jan 2010)

US Equity Market

US equities in peril; dividends slashed!

Cash dividends are slashed ... will the market notice?

Over the last five quarters, the annual rate of dividends paid by US non-financial corporations has fallen by two-thirds, from $462.2 billion to $160.5 billion.

The apparent reason for this negative trend is the intent of corporate management to radically increase stock buybacks in order to boost the value of executive options.

Fund management

Legg Mason argues for stock buybacks

Avarice disguised as prudent management

Legg Mason, the giant asset management company that was recently sold off by Citigroup, issued a report on January 10, 2006 by Michael Mauboussin, Chief Investment Strategist, entitled, “Clear Thinking About Share Repurchases”.

The general tenor of the Legg Mason commentary seems to be favorable towards buybacks, especially extremely large buybacks that are aggressively pursued and that, presumably, are more effective in jacking up stock prices and making investment managers look good.

US Equity Market

Are profits as good as claimed?

Corporate profits depend upon your point of view

On January 28, 2006, an Associated Press dispatch proclaimed: “Corporate Earnings Good Despite Headlines”, stating that “corporate profits remain very healthy overall, and the majority of corporations are beating expectations.” Are these assertions true and does this mean that the outlook is rosy for the average investor in US equities? This article argues that the answer depends on who you are.

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Featured articles on inside pages

Stock buybacks

Stock buybacks and dividend equivalency

Corporations have argued that stock buybacks are equivalent to dividends. This article explains why this is not true and why suggesting buyback-dividend equivalency may constitute fraud.
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US Politics

America grows with legal immigration

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Do stocks offer protection against inflation?

There is a common belief that a managed, diversified portfolio of US common stocks provides protection against inflation. However, there is reason to question whether this protection currently exists.
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US Bonds

Bond demand exceeds supply for a decade

Over the decade, 1995-2004, the demand for US bonds of all types has surpassed new bond issues in eight of the last ten years. This is the reason that bond prices have held firm, even in 2003, when net new issues reached almost $1.8 trillion. More ...

World Economy

Signs of US losing its groove?

Thirty years ago, US income from abroad was more than double the amount of income that the US paid to the rest of the world. This year, or the next, this foreign income surplus may disappear forever. Is the US 'losing its groove'? More ...

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2010-08-05 16:03