The Compensation For Planet Labs PBC's (NYSE:PL) CEO Looks Deserved And Here's Why

Key Insights

• Planet Labs PBC's Annual General Meeting to take place on 10th of July
• CEO Will Marshall's total compensation includes salary of US$441.7k
• Total compensation is similar to the industry average
• Over the past three years, Planet Labs PBC's EPS grew by 33% and over the past three years, the total shareholder return was 43%

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It would be hard to discount the role that CEO Will Marshall has played in delivering the impressive results at Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL) recently. The pleasing results would be something shareholders would keep in mind at the upcoming AGM on 10th of July. This would also be a chance for them to hear the board review the financial results, discuss future company strategy and vote on any resolutions such as executive remuneration. We think the CEO has done a pretty decent job and we discuss why the CEO compensation is appropriate.

Check out our latest analysis for Planet Labs PBC

How Does Total Compensation For Will Marshall Compare With Other Companies In The Industry?

According to our data, Planet Labs PBC has a market capitalization of US$2.1b, and paid its CEO total annual compensation worth US$4.7m over the year to January 2025. We note that's a decrease of 24% compared to last year. While this analysis focuses on total compensation, it's worth acknowledging that the salary portion is lower, valued at US$442k.

For comparison, other companies in the American Professional Services industry with market capitalizations ranging between US$1.0b and US$3.2b had a median total CEO compensation of US$6.3m. From this we gather that Will Marshall is paid around the median for CEOs in the industry. Furthermore, Will Marshall directly owns US$80m worth of shares in the company, implying that they are deeply invested in the company's success.

Component	2025	2024	Proportion (2025)
Salary	US$442k	US$500k	9%
Other	US$4.3m	US$5.8m	91%
Total Compensation	US$4.7m	US$6.3m	100%

On an industry level, around 12% of total compensation represents salary and 88% is other remuneration. Planet Labs PBC sets aside a smaller share of compensation for salary, in comparison to the overall industry. If non-salary compensation dominates total pay, it's an indicator that the executive's salary is tied to company performance.

Planet Labs PBC's Growth

Planet Labs PBC's earnings per share (EPS) grew 33% per year over the last three years. It achieved revenue growth of 9.5% over the 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. Moving away from current form for a second, it could be important to check this free visual depiction of what analysts expect for the future.

Has Planet Labs PBC Been A Good Investment?

Most shareholders would probably be pleased with Planet Labs PBC for providing a total return of 43% over three years. This strong performance might mean some shareholders don't mind if the CEO were to be paid more than is normal for a company of its size.

To Conclude...

Seeing that company performance has been quite good recently, some shareholders may feel that CEO compensation may not be the biggest focus in the upcoming AGM. Seeing that earnings growth and share price performance seems to be on the right path, the more pressing focus for shareholders at the AGM may be how the board and management plans to turn the company into a sustainably profitable one.

While it is important to pay attention to CEO remuneration, investors should also consider other elements of the business. That's why we did some digging and identified 2 warning signs for Planet Labs PBC that you should be aware of before investing.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a different set of stocks. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.