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WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP INC (NASDAQ:WASH) has announced changes to its executive compensation plan, reinstating the Annual Performance Plan with key adjustments. On Monday, the Compensation & Human Resources Committee of the company and its subsidiary, The Washington Trust Company, approved the modifications, which primarily affect the metrics for evaluating corporate performance.
The newly reinstated Annual Performance Plan replaces the Executive Bonus Plan, which was a one-year arrangement for 2024. The purpose of the updated plan is to incentivize executive officers and selected employees to contribute to the corporation’s growth, profitability, and value increase. The plan includes both corporate and individual performance components, with corporate performance gauging pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue, and return on average assets. Each metric carries equal weight. InvestingPro analysis reveals that analysts expect the company to return to profitability this year, with two analysts recently revising their earnings estimates upward.
Individual performance will be assessed based on the fulfillment of expectations set at the start of the year. Participants can earn a percentage of their base salary corresponding to the achievement of specified goals. The plan sets target incentive levels based on the participant’s role, with a maximum award of 150% of the target available for exceeding performance thresholds.
The performance-based awards are granted under the Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. 2022 Long Term Incentive Plan and are designed to be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Payouts are contingent on surpassing minimum performance levels and vary according to performance relative to pre-established targets.
This announcement, based on a press release statement, ensures that the compensation structure aligns with the company’s financial objectives and strategic goals, aiming to drive performance and shareholder value.
In other recent news, Washington Trust Bancorp reported mixed financial results for the fourth quarter of 2024. The company achieved an adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.59, surpassing analyst expectations of $0.57. However, the quarter was marred by a substantial net loss of $60.8 million, or $3.46 per share. Despite these challenges, Washington Trust’s net interest income rose by 2%, with a focus on strategic hires and deposit growth. Seaport Global Securities upgraded Washington Trust’s stock from Neutral to Buy, setting a price target of $36.00, citing successful capital raise and balance sheet restructuring as key factors. The firm reiterated its earnings estimates for Washington Trust at $2.75 for fiscal year 2025 and $3.02 for fiscal year 2026. Analysts at Seaport Global highlighted the bank’s conservative underwriting history and noted the potential benefits from falling interest rates. Washington Trust projects a net interest margin for Q1 2025 between $230 million and $235 million, with anticipated growth in wealth management and mortgage revenue by the end of 2025.
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