CEO Michael Hollis was paid $2,823,992 in fiscal year 2025, ↑ up 22.8% from fiscal year 2024, the 10th percentile of its disclosed peer group (SEC filing 0001437749-26-014193 ↗): executive and director compensation, incentive-plan design, equity activity, and governance — every figure in this brief is traceable to its exact location in the company’s SEC filing — the document, the section, the page, and the table, linked directly.
$2,823,992 ↑ Michael Hollis total, FY2025 | 10th CEO pay percentile vs peers | — CEO-to-median pay ratio | 94.4% Say-on-pay support, latest vote |
Ask our research desk, 24h, every figure cited to its filing.
HPK's next annual pay disclosure, estimated April 30, 2027.est. Filing ↗
| Named executive officer | Salary | Bonus | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension / NQDC | All other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Hollis | $1,200,000 | $1,250,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $373,992 | $2,823,992 |
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||
| W. Ryan Hightower | 500,000 | 400,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 229,624 | 1,129,624 |
| Executive Vice President | ||||||||
| Daniel Silver | 500,000 | 400,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 228,424 | 1,128,424 |
| Executive Vice President | ||||||||
| Rodney Woodard | 545,000 | 215,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 146,960 | 906,960 |
| Chief Operating Officer | ||||||||
| Steven Tholen | 515,000 | 300,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 68,400 | 883,400 |
| Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column; 0 means it reported zero. Figures are as printed in the filing, without adjustment.
| Named executive officer | FY2025 total | FY2024 total | FY2023 total | Δ FY2024→2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Hollis | $2,823,992 | $2,298,992 | $4,131,987 | ↑ +525,000 |
| W. Ryan Hightower | 1,129,624 | — | — | — |
| Daniel Silver | 1,128,424 | — | — | — |
| Rodney Woodard | 906,960 | 886,760 | 1,305,900 | ↑ +20,200 |
| Steven Tholen | 883,400 | — | — | — |
Prior-year totals as disclosed in the corresponding proxy; deltas are computed values with the derivation shown in the register.
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Each company listed discloses HPK in its own benchmarking peer group, as disclosed in each company's most recent proxy statement within the last two proxy seasons. Two companies are therefore absent by design: one that named HPK in an earlier year and no longer does, and one whose own most recent disclosure is older than the last two seasons.
One page per director: the seat, the committees and the fee table, read for one person at a time.
| Director | Role | FY2025 total |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Hightower | Former director (through FY2025) | — |
| Jason A. Edgeworth | Chair of the Board | $150,008 |
| Jay M. Chernosky | Independent Director | $150,008 |
| Keith A. Covington | Independent Director | $150,008 |
| Larry C. Oldham | Independent Director | $157,505 |
| Sharon F. Fulgham | Independent Director | $150,001 |
No insider equity transactions reported since the proxy statement.
| Executive | Award | Grant date | Threshold | Target | Granted | Maximum | Grant-date fair value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rodney Woodard | RSA | 2026-01-09 | — | — | 50,000 | — | — |
| Jack Hightower | RSA | 2026-01-09 | — | — | 50,000 | — | — |
| Michael Hollis | RSA | 2026-01-09 | — | — | 550,000 | — | — |
| Daniel Silver | RSA | 2026-01-09 | — | — | 50,000 | — | — |
| Steven Tholen | RSA | 2026-01-09 | — | — | 50,000 | — | — |
Grant-level vehicle detail not disclosed.
% performance-vested = PSU grant-date fair value ÷ (RSU + PSU + Options), a computed value with the derivation shown in the register.
| Executive | Award | Shares unvested | Exercise price | Market value unvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Silver | Option | 70,000 | 10.5 | — |
| Michael Hollis | Option | 400,000 | 10.5 | — |
| Rodney Woodard | Option | 95,000 | 10.5 | — |
| Steven Tholen | Option | 70,000 | 10.5 | — |
| Hightower | Option | 70,000 | 10.5 | — |
| Hightower | Option | 1,000,000 | 10.3 | — |
The Compensation Committee aims to balance short- and long-term and fixed and variable components of compensation to attract, motivate, and retain highly talented executives while keeping them focused on promoting strategic objectives and maximizing asset value. The objective is to incentivize executives to create long-term value for stockholders by making a portion of total direct compensation variable and dependent on company performance.
| CEO STI target (% of salary) | — |
|---|---|
| CEO LTI target (% of salary) | — |
| Independent consultant | Pearl Meyer & Partners, LLC |
| Clawback policy | true |
| Anti-hedging | true |
| Anti-pledging | false |
| Meeting year | Meeting date | For | Against | Abstain | Support | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2026-06-02 | 82,986,947 | 4,884,646 | 40,091 | 94.4% | Passed |
Rows are labeled by annual-meeting year, with the meeting date beside each; the vote held in a given year acts on the prior fiscal year's compensation.
| Meeting year | Meeting date | Approval — company's computation |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2026-06-02 | 94.4%a |
a. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “Abstentions and broker non-votes will have the effect of a vote against the say-on-pay proposal.”.
Approval percentages are the company's own reported computations under its own stated standard, not recomputed by Velarion. Where a company does not state a standard, none is assumed.
| Director | Cash fees | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | All other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Larry C. OldhamIndependent · Audit (Chair) | $25,000 | $132,505 | — | — | $0 | $157,505 |
| Jason A. EdgeworthIndependent · Board Chair · Compensation · Nominating & Governance (Chair) | 0 | 150,008 | — | — | 0 | 150,008 |
| Keith A. CovingtonIndependent · Audit · Compensation (Chair) · ESG · Nominating & Governance | 0 | 150,008 | — | — | 0 | 150,008 |
| Jay M. ChernoskyIndependent · Audit · Compensation · Nominating & Governance | 0 | 150,008 | — | — | 0 | 150,008 |
| Sharon F. FulghamIndependent · Compensation · ESG (Chair) · Nominating & Governance | 25,000 | 125,001 | — | — | 0 | 150,001 |
| Jack HightowerEmployee director · Departed during FY | — | — | — | — | — | 0 |
| Michael L. HollisEmployee director · ESG | — | — | — | — | — | 0 |
| Daniel SilverEmployee director · ESG · Newly elected | — | — | — | — | — | 0 |
| Annual cash retainer | $0 |
|---|---|
| Annual equity retainer | $150,000 |
| Per board meeting fee | — |
| Committee chair fees (audit / comp / nom-gov) | 7,500 |
| Stock ownership guideline | $750,000 |
| Component | FY2025 |
|---|---|
| Cash retainers and fees | $50,000 |
| Equity awards (grant-date value) | $707,530 |
| All other compensation | $0 |
| Total cost of the board | $757,530 |
Computed as the sum of the director compensation table rows above; inputs and formula shown in the register.
The compensation peer group as the company disclosed it in its own proxy — the reference set behind the percentile above.
Of the companies HighPeak Energy names as compensation peers, which name it back in their own disclosed peer groups. A peer set the market reciprocates reads differently from one selected in a single direction.
Reciprocity shown where the peer's own current proxy has been read — each mark is cited in the register to that peer's filing. A dash means the peer's current proxy was read and names no reciprocal group including HighPeak Energy.
Most recent fiscal-year chief executive compensation at each disclosed peer, taken from that company's own proxy statement.
| Rank | Company | FY | Chief executive | Salary | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Comstock Resources | 2025 | M. Jay Allison | $1,039,500 | $16,549,171 | $0 | $2,013,512 | $21,934,257 |
| 2 | Matador Resources Company | 2025 | Joseph Foran | 1,800,000 | 4,222,400 | 0 | 3,726,000 | 9,775,611 |
| 3 | Civitas Resources, Inc. | 2024 | M. Christopher Doyle | 1,431,150 | 6,933,919 | 0 | 0 | 8,385,769 |
| 4 | Gulfport Energy Corporation | 2025 | John Reinhart | 919,726 | 5,277,437 | 0 | 1,098,900 | 7,323,707 |
| 5 | Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation | 2025 | Christopher Stavros | 870,192 | 4,314,309 | 0 | 1,480,500 | 6,693,001 |
| 6 | BKV Corporation | 2025 | Christopher Kalnin | 795,386 | 3,411,014 | 0 | 1,676,401 | 5,903,801 |
| 7 | Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. | 2025 | Bobby Riley | 675,000 | 3,914,725 | 0 | 742,000 | 5,782,259 |
| 8 | Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. | 2025 | Tyler Farquharson | 477,500 | 4,039,739 | 55,846 | 0 | 4,956,370 |
| 9 | SM Energy Company | 2025 | Elizabeth McDonald | 576,369 | 2,299,995 | 0 | 536,024 | 4,475,172 |
| 10 | Ring Energy, Inc. | 2025 | Paul McKinney | 626,667 | 1,473,306 | 0 | 753,984 | 2,884,957 |
| 11 | HighPeak Energy | 2025 | Michael Hollis | 1,200,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2,823,992 |
| — | Vital Energy, Inc. | — | — | — | — | — | — | not in coverage universe |
Each peer's compensation is from its most recently filed proxy; fiscal years differ by company. Each peer's figures come from its own filings; the subject company is highlighted. Peers whose chief executive compensation is outside our coverage universe are stated as such, never left blank.
| Company | Annual incentive payout | Long-term vehicle mix | PSU measures include TSR | Compensation consultant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HighPeak Energy | not disclosed | RSU 100 | not disclosed | Pearl Meyer & Partners, LLC |
| BKV Corporation | not disclosed | PRSUs 67 · TRSUs 33 | No | Willis Towers Watson plc (WTW) |
| Civitas Resources, Inc. | not disclosed | PSU 70 · RSU 30 | Yes — Absolute TSR | Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC |
| Comstock Resources | not disclosed | not disclosed | not disclosed | Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC |
| Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. | not disclosed | not disclosed | not disclosed | Dana Krieg |
| Gulfport Energy Corporation | not disclosed | PRSU 60 · RSU 40 | not disclosed | WTW |
| Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation | not disclosed | RSU 50 · PSU 50 | not disclosed | FW Cook |
| Matador Resources Company | not disclosed | Cash LTI 50 · PSU 50 | No | Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC |
| Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. | not disclosed | RSU 70 · PRSU 30 | not disclosed | Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC |
| Ring Energy, Inc. | not disclosed | PSU 60 · RSU 40 | not disclosed | Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC |
| SM Energy Company | 93% | PSU 60 · RSU 40 | Yes — Absolute TSR | Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. |
| Vital Energy, Inc. | not disclosed | not disclosed | not disclosed | not disclosed |
Read from each company's Compensation Discussion and Analysis: annual incentive payout as a percentage of target, the disclosed long-term vehicle mix, whether performance-share measures include a total shareholder return component, and the retained compensation consultant. “Not disclosed” appears only where the company's filing does not state the item.
Answers are drawn only from the figures disclosed in this brief and cited to their location in the source filing. Where a figure required for an answer is not disclosed, that is stated rather than estimated.
Each figure's location is given both for the eye (section · page · table · row · column) and for a script (table/row/column index and exact character span in the filed document). Any figure can be independently confirmed against the source.
| # | Supports | Document | Filed | Accession | Location in document |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Section 01, Michael Hollis | DEF 14A | 2026-04-30 | 0001437749-26-014193 | Section “Executive Compensation”. As printed: 2,823,992. Filing ↗machine: span 290005–290014 |
| 2 | Section 01, W. Ryan Hightower | DEF 14A | 2026-04-30 | 0001437749-26-014193 | Section “Executive Compensation”. As printed: 1,129,624. Filing ↗machine: span 321115–321124 |
| 3 | Section 01, Daniel Silver | DEF 14A | 2026-04-30 | 0001437749-26-014193 | Section “Executive Compensation”. As printed: 1,128,424. Filing ↗machine: span 327363–327372 |
| 4 | Section 01, Rodney Woodard | DEF 14A | 2026-04-30 | 0001437749-26-014193 | Section “Executive Compensation”. As printed: 906,960. Filing ↗machine: span 302136–302143 |
| 5 | Section 01, Steven Tholen | DEF 14A | 2026-04-30 | 0001437749-26-014193 | Section “Executive Compensation”. As printed: 883,400. Filing ↗machine: span 314865–314872 |
| 6 | Section 03, Rodney Woodard RSA | DEF 14A | 2026-04-30 | 0001437749-26-014193 | Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: span 256007–256013 |
| 7 | Section 03, Jack Hightower RSA | DEF 14A | 2026-04-30 | 0001437749-26-014193 | Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: span 259252–259258 |
| 8 | Section 03, Michael Hollis RSA | DEF 14A | 2026-04-30 | 0001437749-26-014193 | Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: span 254380–254387 |
| 9 | Section 03, Daniel Silver RSA | DEF 14A | 2026-04-30 | 0001437749-26-014193 | Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: span 260871–260877 |
| 10 | Section 03, Steven Tholen RSA | DEF 14A | 2026-04-30 | 0001437749-26-014193 | Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: span 257629–257635 |
| 11 | Section 08, Larry C. Oldham | DEF 14A | 2026-04-30 | 0001437749-26-014193 | Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 157,505. Filing ↗machine: span 830579–830586 |
| 12 | Section 08, Jason A. Edgeworth | DEF 14A | 2026-04-30 | 0001437749-26-014193 | Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 150,008. Filing ↗machine: span 821148–821155 |
| 13 | Section 08, Keith A. Covington | DEF 14A | 2026-04-30 | 0001437749-26-014193 | Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 150,008. Filing ↗machine: span 816889–816896 |
| 14 | Section 08, Jay M. Chernosky | DEF 14A | 2026-04-30 | 0001437749-26-014193 | Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 150,008. Filing ↗machine: span 812630–812637 |
| 15 | Section 08, Sharon F. Fulgham | DEF 14A | 2026-04-30 | 0001437749-26-014193 | Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 150,001. Filing ↗machine: span 826324–826331 |
| 16 | Section 08, Jack Hightower | DEF 14A | 2026-04-30 | 0001437749-26-014193 | Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 0. Filing ↗ |
| 17 | Section 08, Michael L. Hollis | DEF 14A | 2026-04-30 | 0001437749-26-014193 | Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 0. Filing ↗ |
| 18 | Section 08, Daniel Silver | DEF 14A | 2026-04-30 | 0001437749-26-014193 | Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 0. Filing ↗ |
| 19 | Section 06, 2026 vote | Form 8-K | 2026-06-02 | 0001437749-26-019162 | Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 94.4% (votes for as printed: 82,986,947). Filing ↗ |
| 20 | Section 01 trend, Δ column (computed) | Computed | — | — | Δ = current-FY total − prior-FY total per named officer.machine: formula: Δ = FY(n) − FY(n−1) |
| 21 | Section 09b board cost (computed) | Computed | — | — | Cash 50,000 + equity 707,530 + all other 0 = 757,530, summed across the director compensation table rows.machine: formula: Σ = 757,530 |
| 22 | Comstock Resources, Section 10b CEO total | DEF 14A | 2026-04-22 | 0001193125-26-170561 | CEO total compensation as printed in Comstock Resources's own proxy. As printed: 21,934,257. Filing ↗machine: span 869756–869766 |
| 23 | Matador Resources Company, Section 10b CEO total | DEF 14A | 2026-04-29 | 0001520006-26-000013 | CEO total compensation as printed in Matador Resources Company's own proxy. As printed: 9,775,611. Filing ↗machine: r2 · c6 · span 1657541–1657551 |
| 24 | Civitas Resources, Inc., Section 10b CEO total | DEF 14A | 2025-04-21 | 0001558370-25-005077 | CEO total compensation as printed in Civitas Resources, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 8,385,769. Filing ↗ |
| 25 | Gulfport Energy Corporation, Section 10b CEO total | DEF 14A | 2026-04-08 | 0001213900-26-041489 | CEO total compensation as printed in Gulfport Energy Corporation's own proxy. As printed: 7,323,707. Filing ↗machine: r13 · c6 · span 1324664–1324674 |
| 26 | Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation, Section 10b CEO total | DEF 14A | 2026-03-24 | 0001104659-26-033837 | CEO total compensation as printed in Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation's own proxy. As printed: 6,693,001. Filing ↗machine: span 1032349–1032358 |
| 27 | BKV Corporation, Section 10b CEO total | DEF 14A | 2026-04-28 | 0001104659-26-050381 | CEO total compensation as printed in BKV Corporation's own proxy. As printed: 5,903,801. Filing ↗machine: r1 · c50 · span 772545–772554 |
| 28 | Riley Exploration Permian, Inc., Section 10b CEO total | DEF 14A | 2026-04-10 | 0001140361-26-014090 | CEO total compensation as printed in Riley Exploration Permian, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 5,782,259. Filing ↗machine: span 508818–508827 |
| 29 | Granite Ridge Resources, Inc., Section 10b CEO total | DEF 14A | 2026-04-08 | 0001928446-26-000011 | CEO total compensation as printed in Granite Ridge Resources, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 4,956,370. Filing ↗machine: span 452405–452415 |
| 30 | SM Energy Company, Section 10b CEO total | DEF 14A | 2026-04-08 | 0000893538-26-000048 | CEO total compensation as printed in SM Energy Company's own proxy. As printed: 4,475,172. Filing ↗machine: span 673171–673180 |
| 31 | Ring Energy, Inc., Section 10b CEO total | DEF 14A | 2026-04-10 | 0001384195-26-000068 | CEO total compensation as printed in Ring Energy, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 2,884,957. Filing ↗machine: span 545523–545532 |
| 32 | HighPeak Energy (subject), Section 10b CEO total | DEF 14A | 2026-04-30 | 0001437749-26-014193 | CEO total compensation as printed in HighPeak Energy's own proxy. As printed: 2,823,992. Filing ↗machine: span 290005–290014 |
| 33 | Section 10a, Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation reciprocity | DEF 14A | — | 0001104659-26-033837 | Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation's most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include HighPeak Energy. Filing ↗ |
| 34 | Section 10a, Comstock Resources reciprocity | DEF 14A | — | 0001193125-26-170561 | Comstock Resources's most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include HighPeak Energy. Filing ↗ |
| 35 | Section 10a, Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. reciprocity | DEF 14A | — | 0001140361-26-014090 | Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. names HighPeak Energy in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). Filing ↗ |
| 36 | Section 10a, Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. reciprocity | DEF 14A | — | 0001928446-26-000011 | Granite Ridge Resources, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include HighPeak Energy. Filing ↗ |
| 37 | Section 10a, Matador Resources Company reciprocity | DEF 14A | — | 0001520006-26-000013 | Matador Resources Company's most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include HighPeak Energy. Filing ↗ |
| 38 | Section 10a, SM Energy Company reciprocity | DEF 14A | — | 0000893538-26-000048 | SM Energy Company's most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include HighPeak Energy. Filing ↗ |
| 39 | Section 10a, Civitas Resources, Inc. reciprocity | DEF 14A | — | 0001558370-25-005077 | Civitas Resources, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include HighPeak Energy. Filing ↗ |
| 40 | Section 10a, Gulfport Energy Corporation reciprocity | DEF 14A | — | 0001213900-26-041489 | Gulfport Energy Corporation names HighPeak Energy in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). Filing ↗ |
| 41 | Section 10a, Ring Energy, Inc. reciprocity | DEF 14A | — | 0001384195-26-000068 | Ring Energy, Inc. names HighPeak Energy in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). Filing ↗ |
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