ESOP Association Report: Companies, Employees Share Benefits of Strong Performance

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The results of this year's Economic Performance Survey (EPS) show that, once again, companies belonging to The ESOP Association have experienced positive corporate performance.

Just as importantly, the EPS once again shows that when companies perform well, employee owners share in the rewards. This year, new data reveal a new facet of how ESOP (employee stock ownership plan) companies distribute those rewards.

Employee Owners Share the Rewards        

For the first time ever, this year's survey included questions on pay increases. The results show that 75 percent of responding companies increased wages at or above the national average of 2.7 percent, and 29 percent increased wages by 4 percent of more.

In addition, 55 percent of responding companies contributed to their ESOPs an amount equivalent to 11 percent or more of their employee owners' pay—far surpassing the typical 401(k) match.

Sharing the wealth with employee owners is fundamental to ESOPs and helps align the efforts of all employee owners with the performance of the company.

Profits Rose More than Revenue

The engagement of employee owners may help to explain a noteworthy trend: Companies responding to the survey realize profits that rose more than their revenue.

Since the EPS started asking for greater detail on revenue and profits in 2016, ESOP companies have reported profit margins that exceed the highest increases in revenue. The only apparent explanation is that these companies excel at managing costs, which is consistent with businesses that engage their employees and seek better, more efficient ways to operate.

A History of Strong Performance

Since 2000, the majority of responding companies have reported increases in profits for every year but two (2002 and 2010), and increases in revenue for every year but one (2010).

The exceptions noted above reflect the nationwide economic downturns of the prior years (2001 and 2009). Even in those challenging economic times, 29 percent or more of ESOP companies responding to our survey reported that profits and/or revenue increased.

These results align with recent academic research that found employee-owned businesses surpass conventionally-owned companies at riding out tough economic times. (See How Did Employee Ownership Firms Weather the Last Two Recessions? by professors Fidan Kurtulus and Douglas Kruse.)

Please find the survey here: 2018 Economic Performance Survey

The Employee Ownership Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) organization is dedicated to researching ESOPs and promoting employee ownership. The Foundation sponsors a variety of efforts, including the Kelso Fellowships—a program that conducts academic research on employee ownership and is administered by The Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing, at Rutgers University. 

The ESOP Association is America's largest employer-sponsored advocacy and education association focused on employee stock ownership plans. Founded in 1978, the Association seeks to enhance federal laws governing ESOPs, provide members with expert information, and fund research via the Employee Ownership Foundation (an affiliate). The ESOP Association is a national non-profit organization with 18 local Chapters. Its members include ESOP companies, companies considering an ESOP, and service providers that assist in setting up and maintaining ESOPs. 

Find us on Twitter: @ESOPAssociation

SOURCE The ESOP Association

Related Links

http://www.esopassociation.org

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