PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GROUP INC Stock Compensation Disclosure
Note 17. Stock Based Compensation
PSEG’s 2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan (2021 LTIP), approved by shareholders on April 20, 2021 and the Amended and Restated 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan ((2004 LTIP) under which no new grants have been made effective April 20, 2021), are broad-based equity compensation programs that provide for grants of various long-term incentive compensation awards, such as stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance share units (PSUs), restricted stock, restricted stock units (RSUs), cash awards or any combination thereof. The types of long-term incentive awards that have been granted under the LTIP are non-qualified options to purchase shares of PSEG’s common stock, restricted stock unit awards and performance share unit awards. The type of equity award that is granted and the details of that award may vary from time to time and is subject to the approval of the Organization and Compensation Committee of PSEG’s Board of Directors (O&CC), the LTIP’s administrative committee.
The 2021 LTIP currently provides for the issuance of equity awards with respect to 8 million shares of common stock. As of December 31, 2025, approximately 5 million shares were available for future awards under the 2021 LTIP.
In addition, on April 20, 2021 shareholders approved the PSEG 2021 Equity Compensation Plan for Outside Directors (2021 BOD Plan) and the PSEG 2007 Equity Compensation Plan for Outside Directors (2007 BOD Plan) was closed to new awards.
Under the 2021 BOD Plan, the only equity instrument which may be granted are RSUs and the Board member must defer the award until they have achieved their stock ownership requirement.
Stock Options
Under the 2021 LTIP, non-qualified options to acquire shares of PSEG common stock may be granted to officers and other key employees selected by the O&CC. No options have been granted since 2009.
RSUs
Under both the 2021 LTIP and 2004 LTIP (LTIPs), PSEG has granted RSU awards to officers and other key employees. These awards, which are bookkeeping entries only, are subject to risk of forfeiture until vested by continued employment. Until distributed, the units are credited with dividend equivalent units (DEUs) proportionate to the dividends paid on PSEG common stock. Distributions are made in shares of common stock. The RSU grants for 2025 and 2024 have a 3-year graded vesting (1/3 per year) starting from the grant date and 2023 cliff vest at the end of three years. Vesting may be accelerated (pro-rated basis or full vesting) upon certain events such as change-in-control, retirement, disability or death.
PSUs
Under the LTIPs, PSEG has granted PSUs to officers and other key employees. These provide for distribution in shares of PSEG common stock based on achievement of certain goals over a performance period of three years. Following the end of the performance period, the payout varies from 0% to 200% of the number of PSUs granted depending on PSEG’s performance with respect to those goals. The PSUs are credited with DEUs proportionate to the dividends paid on PSEG common stock. Distributions are made in shares of common stock. Vesting may be accelerated on a pro-rated basis for the period of the employee’s service during the performance period as a result of certain events, such as change-in-control, retirement, death or disability.
Stock-Based Compensation
PSEG recognizes compensation expense for RSUs over the vesting period based on the grant date fair value of the shares, which is equal to the closing market price of PSEG’s common stock on the date of the grant.
PSEG recognizes compensation expense for the total shareholder return (TSR) target for its PSU awards based on the grant date fair values of the award, which are determined using the Monte Carlo model. The following table provides the assumptions used to calculate the grant date fair value of the TSR portion of the PSU awards for 2025, 2024 and 2023:
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Grant Date |
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Risk-Free |
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Volatility |
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February 11, 2025 |
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4.19% |
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21.51% |
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February 13, 2024 |
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4.35% |
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20.32% |
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February 14, 2023 |
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4.24% |
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25.09% |
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The accrual of compensation cost is based on the probable achievement of the performance conditions, which result in a payout from 0% to 200% of the initial grant. PSEG recognizes compensation expense for all other components of its PSUs based on the grant date fair value of the awards, which is equal to the market price of PSEG’s common stock on the date of the grant. The accrual during the year of grant is estimated at 100% of the original grant. Such accrual may be adjusted to reflect the actual outcome.
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2025 |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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Millions |
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Compensation Cost included in O&M Expense |
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$ |
43 |
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$ |
40 |
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$ |
18 |
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Income Tax Benefit Recognized in Consolidated Statements of Operations |
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$ |
12 |
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$ |
11 |
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$ |
5 |
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For each of the years 2025, 2024 and 2023, PSEG also recorded excess tax benefits of $9 million, $1 million and $22 million, respectively.
PSEG recognizes compensation cost of awards issued over the shorter of the original vesting period or the period beginning on the date of grant and ending on the date an individual is eligible for retirement and the award vests.
RSUs
Changes in RSUs for the year ended December 31, 2025 are summarized as follows:
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Shares |
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Weighted |
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Weighted |
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Aggregate |
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Non-vested as of January 1, 2025 |
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448,790 |
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$ |
61.03 |
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Granted |
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326,735 |
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$ |
83.74 |
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Vested |
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354,257 |
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$ |
69.34 |
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Canceled/Forfeited |
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9,265 |
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$ |
72.79 |
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Non-vested as of December 31, 2025 |
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412,003 |
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$ |
71.63 |
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0.7 |
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$ |
33,083,841 |
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The weighted average grant date fair value per share for RSUs during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 was $83.74, $59.22 and $61.44 per share, respectively.
The total intrinsic value of RSUs distributed during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 was $36 million, $16 million and $54 million, respectively.
As of December 31, 2025, there was approximately $16 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to the RSUs, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.2 years. DEUs of 30,462 accrued on the RSUs during the year.
PSUs
Changes in PSUs for the year ended December 31, 2025 are summarized as follows:
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Shares |
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Weighted |
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Weighted |
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Aggregate |
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Non-vested as of January 1, 2025 |
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473,853 |
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$ |
66.59 |
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Granted |
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319,884 |
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$ |
80.29 |
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Vested |
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369,333 |
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$ |
69.70 |
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Canceled/Forfeited |
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19,499 |
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$ |
70.99 |
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Non-vested as of December 31, 2025 |
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404,905 |
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$ |
74.36 |
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1.6 |
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$ |
32,513,872 |
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The weighted average grant date fair value per share for PSUs during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 was $80.29, $65.44 and $67.99 per share, respectively.
The total intrinsic value of PSUs distributed during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 was $50 million, $10 million and $95 million, respectively.
As of December 31, 2025, there was approximately $25 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to the PSUs, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.6 years. DEUs of 39,162 accrued on the PSUs during the year.
Outside Directors
Under the closed 2007 BOD Plan and the new 2021 BOD Plan, annually, on the first business day of May, each non-employee member of the Board of Directors is awarded stock units based on the amount of annual compensation to be paid at the closing price of PSEG common stock on that date. DEUs are credited quarterly and distributions will occur as specified by their election in accordance with the provisions of the BOD Plan.
The fair value of these awards is recorded as compensation expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Compensation expense for the plan was $2 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023.
ESPP
PSEG maintains an ESPP for all eligible employees of PSEG and its subsidiaries. Under the ESPP, shares of PSEG common stock may be purchased at 95% of the fair market value for represented employees and 90% for non-represented employees through payroll deductions. Dividends are to be paid out in cash unless the participant elects the dividends to be reinvested at fair market price. All employees are required to hold the shares purchased under the ESPP for at least three months from the purchase date. In any year, employees may purchase shares having a value not exceeding 10% of their base pay. Compensation expense recognized under this program was $2 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023.
During the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, employees purchased 286,500 shares, 287,982 shares and 339,807 shares, respectively, at an average price of $76.00, $71.46 and $55.84 per share, respectively. As of December 31, 2025, 672,250 shares were available for future issuance under this plan.
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 26, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Feb 25, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Feb 26, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Feb 22, 2023 | |
| 2018 | Feb 28, 2019 | |
About Stock Compensation Disclosures
Stock-based compensation disclosures detail the equity awards granted to employees and executives — including stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), and performance shares — along with the valuation methods and assumptions used to expense them. This section reveals the true cost of talent retention and the alignment between management incentives and shareholder interests.
Key signals: total unrecognized compensation expense and its expected recognition period signal future earnings headwinds from already-granted awards. For stock options, examine Black-Scholes assumptions — expected volatility, risk-free rate, and expected term — as understating any of these reduces reported compensation expense. Compare stock compensation expense as a percentage of revenue against peers to assess dilution cost. Watch vesting schedules for acceleration clauses tied to change-of-control events. Performance-based awards with undemanding targets may indicate weak governance. Add back stock compensation to operating cash flow to calculate a more conservative free cash flow figure.