Should You Worry About Farmers National Banc Corp.'s (NASDAQ:FMNB) CEO Pay?

In 2013 Kevin Helmick was appointed CEO of Farmers National Banc Corp. (NASDAQ:FMNB). This report will, first, examine the CEO compensation levels in comparison to CEO compensation at companies of similar size. Next, we'll consider growth that the business demonstrates. Third, we'll reflect on the total return to shareholders over three years, as a second measure of business performance. This method should give us information to assess how appropriately the company pays the CEO.

See our latest analysis for Farmers National Banc

How Does Kevin Helmick's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies?

According to our data, Farmers National Banc Corp. has a market capitalization of US$385m, and pays its CEO total annual compensation worth US$985k. (This number is for the twelve months until December 2018). That's actually a decrease on the year before. While this analysis focuses on total compensation, it's worth noting the salary is lower, valued at US$433k. As part of our analysis we looked at companies in the same jurisdiction, with market capitalizations of US$200m to US$800m. The median total CEO compensation was US$1.6m.

Most shareholders would consider it a positive that Kevin Helmick takes less total compensation than the CEOs of most similar size companies, leaving more for shareholders. Though positive, it's important we delve into the performance of the actual business.

You can see, below, how CEO compensation at Farmers National Banc has changed over time.

Is Farmers National Banc Corp. Growing?

Farmers National Banc Corp. has increased its earnings per share (EPS) by an average of 30% a year, over the last three years (using a line of best fit). Its revenue is up 7.1% over last year.

Overall this is a positive result for shareholders, showing that the company has improved in recent years. It's good to see a bit of revenue growth, as this suggests the business is able to grow sustainably. It could be important to check this free visual depiction of what analysts expect for the future.

Has Farmers National Banc Corp. Been A Good Investment?

Boasting a total shareholder return of 62% over three years, Farmers National Banc Corp. has done well by shareholders. So they may not be at all concerned if the CEO were to be paid more than is normal for companies around the same size.

In Summary...

Farmers National Banc Corp. is currently paying its CEO below what is normal for companies of its size. Considering the underlying business is growing earnings, this would suggest the pay is modest. The pleasing shareholder returns are the cherry on top; you might even consider that Kevin Helmick deserves a raise!

Most shareholders like to see a modestly paid CEO combined with strong performance by the company. It would be even more positive if company insiders are buying shares. CEO compensation is one thing, but it is also interesting to check if the CEO is buying or selling Farmers National Banc (free visualization of insider trades).

Arguably, business quality is much more important than CEO compensation levels. So check out this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.