Velarion · Company Intelligence
Compensation Brief
Fiscal year 2025 · Filings through 2026-05-12

Cactus (WHD)

CEO Scott Bender was paid $2,524,459 in fiscal year 2025: 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.

$2,524,459
Scott Bender total, FY2025
12th
CEO pay percentile vs peers
—
CEO-to-median pay ratio
98.41%
Say-on-pay support, latest vote

The Pay Desk — the free weekly executive pay briefing, one company at a time, every number traceable to a public filing.

You'll confirm on The Pay Desk's sign-up page.

Buy the report for WHD

The free brief above is the whole reading. Each report is the same data as a presentation-ready document, generated for this company at the moment of purchase.

Executive Compensation ReportExecutive pay, the peers the company names, and the votes it faces.$1,500 →Board Governance ReportBoard composition, committees and director pay, read from the same filings.$499 →Complete Intelligence BundleBoth reports for one company, delivered separately.$2,400 →
WHDon Velarion Intel, free → The platform reading of this company, beside the same data as a subscription.

Order WHD

Pick the report, add the email the receipt and the PDF go to, and pay by card on Stripe.

Receipt, invoice, and report delivery. Guest checkout, no account required, secure payment by Stripe.

How we handle your data → Privacy

Companies that benchmark against WHD
8 companies name WHD as a compensation peer

Each company listed discloses WHD 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 WHD in an earlier year and no longer does, and one whose own most recent disclosure is older than the last two seasons.

01

Summary Compensation Table — fiscal year 2025

Named executive officerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension / NQDCAll otherTotal
Scott Bender$450,000$0$1,821,634$0$222,788$0$30,037$2,524,459
Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board and Director
Stephen Tadlock458,65401,092,9980178,230031,2991,761,181
Executive Vice President, Chief Executive Officer of the Spoolable Technologies Segment and Chief Executive Officer of Cactus International
Steven Bender450,000———178,230—26,4101,747,638
Chief Operating Officer
Jay Nutt463,9180728,6360178,230024,8591,395,643
Executive Vice President and 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.

Three-year trend — total compensation per named executive

Named executive officerFY2025 totalFY2024 totalFY2023 totalΔ FY2024→2025
Scott Bender$2,524,459$3,308,588$2,859,557−784,129
Stephen Tadlock1,761,1812,274,1475,896,139−512,966
Steven Bender1,747,6382,278,2815,457,458−530,643
Jay Nutt1,395,6431,361,460—+34,183

Prior-year totals as disclosed in the corresponding proxy; deltas are computed values with the derivation shown in the register.

02

Equity transactions since the proxy statement was filed

No insider equity transactions reported since the proxy statement.

03

Grants of plan-based awards — fiscal year 2025

ExecutiveAwardGrant dateThresholdTargetGrantedMaximumGrant-date fair value
Joel BenderRSU2025-03-10——20,133—$910,817
Joel BenderPSU2025-03-1010,06720,133—40,266910,817
Scott BenderRSU2025-03-10——20,133—910,817
Steven BenderRSU2025-03-10——12,080—546,499
Scott BenderPSU2025-03-1010,06720,133—40,266910,817
Steven BenderPSU2025-03-106,04012,080—24,160546,499
Stephen TadlockPSU2025-03-106,04012,080—24,160546,499
Stephen TadlockRSU2025-03-10——12,080—549,499
03b

Vehicle mix — grant-date fair value by award type

Named executive officerTime-vested (RSU)Performance-vested (PSU)Options / SARs% performance-vested
Joel Bender$910,817$910,817$050.0%
Scott Bender910,817910,817050.0%
Steven Bender546,499546,499050.0%
Stephen Tadlock549,499546,499049.9%

% performance-vested = PSU grant-date fair value ÷ (RSU + PSU + Options), a computed value with the derivation shown in the register.

04

Outstanding equity awards at fiscal year-end 2025

ExecutiveAwardShares unvestedExercise priceMarket value unvested
BenderPSU24,160—$1,103,629
BenderRSU20,133—919,675
Stephen TadlockRSU81,467—3,721,413
Stephen TadlockRSU3,395—155,084
BenderRSU16,571—756,963
BenderRSU7,638—348,904
BenderRSU4,583—209,351
BenderRSU81,467—3,721,413
BenderPSU49,714—2,270,936
BenderPSU40,266—1,839,351
Stephen TadlockPSU29,830—1,362,634
BenderPSU29,830—1,362,634
Stephen TadlockPSU24,160—1,103,629
Jay NuttPSU17,654—806,435
Jay NuttPSU16,106—735,722
Stephen TadlockRSU12,080—551,814
BenderRSU12,080—551,814
Stephen TadlockRSU9,943—454,196
BenderRSU9,943—454,196
Jay NuttRSU8,053—367,861
Jay NuttRSU5,884—268,781
Stephen TadlockRSU4,583—209,351
05

Incentive-plan design — the Compensation Discussion & Analysis

The core principle of our executive compensation philosophy is to pay for performance that is aligned with our business strategy and drives growth in shareholder value over the short and long term. Accordingly, a significant portion of the compensation that we pay to our NEOs is in the form of variable, “at-risk” cash and equity incentives.

CEO STI target (% of salary)—
CEO LTI target (% of salary)—
Independent consultantPearl Meyer & Partners, LLC
Clawback policytrue
Anti-hedgingtrue
Anti-pledgingtrue
06

Say-on-pay — recent advisory votes

Meeting yearMeeting dateForAgainstAbstainSupportOutcome
20262026-05-1273,305,2851,137,75843,29898.41%Passed
20252025-05-1376,222,580732,78124,26999.02%Passed
20222022-05-1769,590,675704,46218,44098.97%Passed
20192019-05-2267,764,8771,229,8265,86298.21%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.

Say-on-pay — history, company's computation

Meeting yearMeeting dateApproval — company's computation
20262026-05-1298.41%a
20252025-05-1399.02%b
20222022-05-1798.97%c

a. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “n into account in determining the outcome of this proposal, and abstentions will have the effect of a vote against this proposal.”.

b. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “Broker non-votes are not taken into account in determining the outcome of this proposal, and abstentions will have the effect of a vote against this proposal.”.

c. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “tes are not taken into account in determining the outcome of this proposal, and abstentions will have the effect of a vote against this 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.

08

Director compensation — fiscal year 2025

DirectorCash feesStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentiveAll otherTotal
Alan SempleIndependent · Audit Committee (Chair) · Nominating and Governance Committee$119,000$114,186———$233,186
Michael McGovernIndependent · Audit Committee · Compensation Committee (Chair)114,000114,186———228,186
Tym TombarIndependent · Audit Committee · Compensation Committee109,000114,186———223,186
Gary RosenthalIndependent · Lead Independent Director · Compensation Committee · Nominating and Governance Committee (Chair)109,000114,186———223,186
Melissa LawIndependent · Audit Committee · Compensation Committee · Not standing for re-election109,000114,186———223,186
John (Andy) O’DonnellIndependent · Compensation · Nominating and Governance104,000114,186———218,186
Bruce RothsteinIndependent · Not standing for re-election94,000114,186———208,186
Joel BenderEmployee director—————0
Scott BenderEmployee director · Board Chair—————0
Tana UtleyIndependent · Newly elected——————
09

Board fee structure and ownership guideline

Annual cash retainer$94,000
Annual equity retainer$141,000
Per board meeting fee—
Committee chair fees (audit / comp / nom-gov)10,000 / 10,000 / 10,000
Stock ownership guideline$376,000
09b

Total cost of the board

ComponentFY2025
Cash retainers and fees$758,000
Equity awards (grant-date value)$799,302
All other compensation$0
Total cost of the board$1,557,302

Computed as the sum of the director compensation table rows above; inputs and formula shown in the register.

10

Disclosed peer group — fiscal year 2025

The compensation peer group as the company disclosed it in its own proxy — the reference set behind the percentile above.

10a

Peer reciprocity

Of the companies Cactus 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 Cactus.

10b

Chief executive pay against the peer group

Most recent fiscal-year chief executive compensation at each disclosed peer, taken from that company's own proxy statement.

RankCompanyFYChief executiveSalaryStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentiveTotal
1Archrock, Inc.2025D. Bradley Childers$944,231$6,037,304—$1,985,363$9,037,610
2Helmerich & Payne, Inc.2025John Lindsay1,179,9095,749,95701,559,0169,010,799
3Kodiak Gas Services, Inc.2025Robert McKee750,0004,489,72601,070,4246,568,143
4ProPetro Holding Corp.2025Samuel Sledge975,0004,391,41001,137,5006,539,712
5Atlas Energy Solutions Inc.2025John Turner906,1544,072,930005,508,018
6Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc2025Owen Kratz800,0003,838,5190420,0005,067,269
7Liberty Energy Inc.2025Ron Gusek591,2822,943,85501,057,7184,793,487
8RPC, Inc.2025Ben Palmer618,0001,388,26501,155,6603,192,075
9Cactus2025Scott Bender450,0001,821,6340222,7882,524,459
10ProFrac Holding Corp.2025Johnathan Wilks475,000839,615059,3751,404,204

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.

10c

Incentive design against the same peers

CompanyAnnual incentive payoutLong-term vehicle mixPSU measures include TSRCompensation consultant
Cactusnot disclosedPSU 50 · RSU 50not disclosedPearl Meyer & Partners, LLC
Archrock, Inc.not disclosedRSU 50 · PRSU 50not disclosedPearl Meyer
Atlas Energy Solutions Inc.not disclosednot disclosednot disclosednot disclosed
Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc35%PSU 50 · RSU 50Yes — TSR relative to performance peer groupWTW (Willis Towers Watson)
Helmerich & Payne, Inc.109.09%PSU 50 · RSU 50Yes — Total Stockholder Return (TSR)Willis Towers Watson
Kodiak Gas Services, Inc.not disclosedPSU 44 · RSU 29not disclosednot disclosed
Liberty Energy Inc.not disclosednot disclosednot disclosednot disclosed
ProFrac Holding Corp.not disclosedRSU 100Nonot disclosed
ProPetro Holding Corp.not disclosedRSU 50 · PSU 50not disclosedPearl Meyer
RPC, Inc.187%RSU 75 · PSU 25NoMercer, LLC

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.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Who was the highest-paid executive at Cactus in fiscal 2025?
As disclosed, Scott Bender, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board and Director, was the highest-paid executive at Cactus in fiscal 2025 with total compensation of $2,524,459.
How does Cactus's chief executive pay compare to its disclosed peer group?
The filing shows that the chief executive's pay ranked at the 12th percentile of the disclosed peer group.
What is Cactus's CEO-to-median employee pay ratio?
The CEO-to-median employee pay ratio is not disclosed in this filing.
How did shareholders vote on Cactus's executive compensation?
As disclosed, shareholders voted in support of executive compensation with a 98.41% approval rate.
How much does Cactus spend in total on board compensation for fiscal 2025?
The company reported total board compensation of $1,557,302 for fiscal 2025.

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.

11

Source register

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.

#SupportsDocumentFiledAccessionLocation in document
1Section 01, Scott BenderDEF 14A2026-03-310001628280-26-022453Section “Executive Compensation”. As printed: 2,524,459. Filing ↗machine: span 346833–346842
2Section 01, Stephen TadlockDEF 14A2026-03-310001628280-26-022453Section “Executive Compensation”. As printed: 1,761,181. Filing ↗machine: r8 · c21 · span 367633–367642
3Section 01, Steven BenderDEF 14A2026-03-310001628280-26-022453Section “Executive Compensation”. As printed: 1,747,638. Filing ↗
4Section 01, Jay NuttDEF 14A2026-03-310001628280-26-022453Section “Executive Compensation”. As printed: 1,395,643. Filing ↗machine: r11 · c21 · span 377777–377786
5Section 03, Joel Bender RSUDEF 14A2026-03-310001628280-26-022453Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: span 428667–428674
6Section 03, Joel Bender PSUDEF 14A2026-03-310001628280-26-022453Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: span 426864–426871
7Section 03, Scott Bender RSUDEF 14A2026-03-310001628280-26-022453Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: span 421688–421695
8Section 03, Steven Bender RSUDEF 14A2026-03-310001628280-26-022453Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: span 449982–449989
9Section 03, Scott Bender PSUDEF 14A2026-03-310001628280-26-022453Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: span 419885–419892
10Section 03, Steven Bender PSUDEF 14A2026-03-310001628280-26-022453Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: span 447802–447809
11Section 03, Stephen Tadlock PSUDEF 14A2026-03-310001628280-26-022453Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: span 433846–433853
12Section 03, Stephen Tadlock RSUDEF 14A2026-03-310001628280-26-022453Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: span 435649–435656
13Section 08, Alan SempleDEF 14A2026-03-310001628280-26-022453Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 233,186. Filing ↗machine: span 829133–829432
14Section 08, Michael McGovernDEF 14A2026-03-310001628280-26-022453Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 228,186. Filing ↗machine: span 823498–823797
15Section 08, Tym TombarDEF 14A2026-03-310001628280-26-022453Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 223,186. Filing ↗machine: span 831003–831302
16Section 08, Gary RosenthalDEF 14A2026-03-310001628280-26-022453Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 223,186. Filing ↗machine: span 827262–827561
17Section 08, Melissa LawDEF 14A2026-03-310001628280-26-022453Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 223,186. Filing ↗machine: span 821622–821921
18Section 08, John (Andy) O’DonnellDEF 14A2026-03-310001628280-26-022453Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 218,186. Filing ↗machine: span 825385–825684
19Section 08, Bruce RothsteinDEF 14A2026-03-310001628280-26-022453Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 208,186. Filing ↗machine: span 819656–819845
20Section 08, Joel BenderDEF 14A2026-03-310001628280-26-022453Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 0. Filing ↗
21Section 08, Scott BenderDEF 14A2026-03-310001628280-26-022453Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 0. Filing ↗
22Section 08, Tana UtleyDEF 14A2026-03-310001628280-26-022453Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: —. Filing ↗
23Section 06, 2026 voteForm 8-K2026-05-120001628280-26-034225Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 98.41% (votes for as printed: 73,305,285). Filing ↗
24Section 06, 2025 voteForm 8-K2025-05-150001699136-25-000080Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 99.02% (votes for as printed: 76,222,580). Filing ↗
25Section 06, 2022 voteForm 8-K2022-05-180001699136-22-000078Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 98.97%. Filing ↗
26Section 01 trend, Δ column (computed)Computed——Δ = current-FY total − prior-FY total per named officer.machine: formula: Δ = FY(n) − FY(n−1)
27Section 03b vehicle mix (computed)Computed——RSU / PSU / Options grant-date fair values summed per officer from the grants table; % performance-vested = PSU ÷ (RSU+PSU+Options).machine: formula: sums + PSU ratio
28Section 09b board cost (computed)Computed——Cash 758,000 + equity 799,302 + all other 0 = 1,557,302, summed across the director compensation table rows.machine: formula: Σ = 1,557,302
29Archrock, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-170001104659-26-029581CEO total compensation as printed in Archrock, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 9,037,610. Filing ↗
30Helmerich & Payne, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-01-220001104659-26-005786CEO total compensation as printed in Helmerich & Payne, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 9,010,799. Filing ↗machine: r1 · c42 · span 1420313–1420322
31Kodiak Gas Services, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-270001767042-26-000028CEO total compensation as printed in Kodiak Gas Services, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 6,568,143. Filing ↗machine: r2 · c42 · span 473886–473895
32ProPetro Holding Corp., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-04-080001104659-26-040891CEO total compensation as printed in ProPetro Holding Corp.'s own proxy. As printed: 6,539,712. Filing ↗machine: r1 · c48 · span 1147235–1147244
33Atlas Energy Solutions Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-270001140361-26-011749CEO total compensation as printed in Atlas Energy Solutions Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 5,508,018. Filing ↗machine: r5 · c18 · span 569568–569577
34Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc, Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-04-010001140361-26-012501CEO total compensation as printed in Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc's own proxy. As printed: 5,067,269. Filing ↗machine: r2 · c22 · span 1194229–1194239
35Liberty Energy Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-050001999371-26-005123CEO total compensation as printed in Liberty Energy Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 4,793,487. Filing ↗machine: r5 · c14 · span 606395–606404
36RPC, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-180001104659-26-030766CEO total compensation as printed in RPC, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 3,192,075. Filing ↗machine: t142 · r9 · c14 · span 742140–742149
37Cactus (subject), Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-310001628280-26-022453CEO total compensation as printed in Cactus's own proxy. As printed: 2,524,459. Filing ↗machine: span 346833–346842
38ProFrac Holding Corp., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-04-270001104659-26-049044CEO total compensation as printed in ProFrac Holding Corp.'s own proxy. As printed: 1,404,204. Filing ↗machine: r3 · c35 · span 312739–312748
39Section 10a, ProPetro Holding Corp. reciprocityDEF 14A—0001104659-26-040891ProPetro Holding Corp.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Cactus. Filing ↗
40Section 10a, Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc reciprocityDEF 14A—0001140361-26-012501Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc's most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Cactus. Filing ↗
41Section 10a, Liberty Energy Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A—0001999371-26-005123Liberty Energy Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Cactus. Filing ↗
42Section 10a, Kodiak Gas Services, Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A—0001767042-26-000028Kodiak Gas Services, Inc. names Cactus in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). Filing ↗
43Section 10a, Helmerich & Payne, Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A—0001104659-26-005786Helmerich & Payne, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Cactus. Filing ↗
44Section 10a, Archrock, Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A—0001104659-26-029581Archrock, Inc. names Cactus in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). Filing ↗
45Section 10a, Atlas Energy Solutions Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A—0001140361-26-011749Atlas Energy Solutions Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Cactus. Filing ↗

Track this company's pay every filing: join the Pro seat waitlist

Velarion Pro: every company page, peer tools and exports, one seat

A confirmation now and one email when Pro opens, and nothing else. Privacy