Equus Total Return (EQS) executive compensation, 2026 proxy

John A. Hardy, Chief Executive Officer, was paid $896,943 in fiscal 2025, up 68% from $534,667 the year before. The CEO-to-median-employee pay ratio was 2.4:1, on median employee pay of $371,056.

Filed
April 30, 2026
Annual meeting
June 30, 2026
Pay year
fiscal 2025
Named executives
3
CEO total pay
$896,943+68% vs prior year
CEO to median employee
2.4:1median $371,056
CEO pay in equity
37%$335,542 in awards
Prior say-on-pay support
77%of votes cast
CEO Stock Awards
$335,542Granted in 2016 Plan
Say-on-Pay Support
76.5%2025 annual meeting vote
Restricted Stock Value
$2.51Per share on grant date

How Hardy was paid

$896,943 in total for fiscal 2025, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table. Equity awards are valued at grant, not at what they turned out to be worth.

Salary63%Stock awards37%

Named executive officers

ExecutiveTotal
John A. HardyChief Executive Officer$896,943
L'Sheryl D. HudsonChief Financial Officer$349,813
Kenneth I. DenosSecretary and CCO$625,515

What changed and why

  • $897KChief Executive Officer total compensation increased to $896,943 in 2025 from $534,667 in 2024.
  • The Compensation Committee approved restricted stock awards totaling 200,523 shares under the 2016 Plan.
  • No restricted stock or other equity incentives had been awarded to named executive officers since 2017.
  • $2.51Restricted shares were valued at $2.51 each, matching the net asset value per share on the grant date.
  • Shareholders approved the 2025 Equity Incentive Plan on March 19, 2026.
  • 76.5%Prior year say-on-pay proposal received 76.5% support from submitted votes.

About this page

Figures are automated and can be wrong; check the filing for the exact numbers. Totals follow SEC rules, which value stock and option awards at grant. Read the DEF 14A proxy statement for footnotes and the compensation committee's full reasoning.