More Fortune 500 companies are increasing their use of full awards, time- and performance-based restricted shares, and stock-settled units, over other appreciation awards such as stock options and stock-settled appreciation rights when structuring their equity incentive practices, says a recent study by consulting firm Towers Watson.
In the publication released on Jan. 16, the study finds that in 2010, the use of full awards increased to 47 percent of the number of shares granted and 75 percent of the grant-date fair value of all equity awards at the typical Fortune 500 company compared to only 29 percent of the shares granted and 57 percent of the value five years ago.
