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ISS-Corporate Report: Record CEO Pay, Strong Shareholder Backing Define 2026 Proxy Season
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U.S. 2026 Compensation Post-Season Review: Strong Investor Support Despite Resurgence of One-Time Grants

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    Executive Compensation

    U.S. 2026 Compensation Post-Season Review: Strong Investor Support Despite Resurgence of One-Time Grants

    In our U.S. 2026 Compensation Post-Season Review,
    ISS-Corporate examines executive compensation trends across the Russell 3000 and S&P 500, highlighting the continued rise in CEO pay, the resurgence of one-time equity awards, and evolving investor perspectives on executive compensation.

    Despite record CEO pay levels and an increase in discretionary compensation decisions, shareholder support for executive pay remained strong. Say-on-pay support reached five-year highs, while failure rates declined to multi-year lows.

    Download the report to discover:

    • How median CEO compensation reached record levels in the S&P 500, driven primarily by growth in long-term incentive awards and a resurgence of one-time equity grants.
    • Why shareholders continued to support executive compensation programs despite increasing pay levels, special awards, and greater use of compensation discretion.
    • What emerging trends, including increased CEO security perquisites and potential SEC rule changes, could mean for compensation governance, disclosure, and shareholder voting in the years ahead.