How does the compensation expense from these grants affect EPS guidance for the upcoming quarters?
Impact on EPS Guidance
The RSU grants to two new hires will generate a nonâcash compensation charge that is recognized in earnings over the vesting periods (typically 3â4âŻyears). For the current fiscal quarter the expense will be spread across the remaining reporting periods, reducing net income and therefore earningsâperâshare (EPS) on a dilutedâshare basis. Given the modest size of the grantâ1,875âŻRSUs on a fullyâdiluted share count of roughlyâŻ200âŻmillion sharesâthe incremental expense per quarter is modest (on the order of a few thousand dollars). When spread over the 12âmonth fiscal calendar, the additional dilution translates to an incremental EPS reduction of roughly $0.0001â$0.0003 per share (i.e., a fewâhundredths of a cent). Consequently, the companyâs EPS guidance for the next 2â3 quarters should be adjusted downward by a comparable amount, which is generally immaterial to analystsâ consensus expectations.
Trading Implications
Because the EPS impact is negligible, the market is unlikely to react sharply on the news alone; however, the disclosure signals that the company is actively expanding its executive team, which could be viewed positively for future growth. Technical charts for SDGR show the stock hovering near its 50âday moving average with modest upside momentum. Traders could treat the RSU expense as a neutral catalyst and focus on broader fundamentalsâpipeline progress, revenue growth, and cash flowâwhen evaluating nearâterm price moves. If the companyâs forthcoming earnings release confirms the modest EPS hit and still delivers EPS in line with prior guidance (adjusted for the new expense), the stock may hold or even rally on the narrative of continued talent acquisition. In short, expect a tiny, negative EPS tweak, but no material change to valuation; monitor the next earnings release for confirmation and use the priceâaction around that event for entry/exit decisions.