Cal-Maine (NASDAQ: CALM) schedules 2026 vote after lower sales, earnings
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (symbol CALM) is holding its 2026 annual stockholder meeting on October 2, 2026 in Ridgeland, Mississippi. Stockholders of record on August 7, 2026 (46,915,895 shares outstanding) will vote on electing three Class II directors, approving on an advisory basis executive compensation, and ratifying Frost, PLLC as independent auditor for fiscal 2027.
The company reports fiscal 2026 net sales of $2.9 billion, down from $4.3 billion in 2025, and net income attributable to the company of $316.7 million (or $6.63 per diluted share) versus $1.2 billion (or $24.95 per diluted share) a year earlier. Management highlights expansion of prepared foods via the acquisition of Echo Lake Foods, LLC and notes that prepared foods plus specialty shell eggs comprised 44.4% of total net sales in 2026. The company also announces a planned $54 million investment to expand prepared foods production and emphasizes a "resilient balance sheet" and a mix of base salary, cash bonus and equity awards (RSAs and PSUs) to align executive pay with performance.
Positive
- Prepared foods and specialty shell eggs grew to 44.4% of total net sales in fiscal 2026, supported by the acquisition of Echo Lake Foods, LLC.
- The company plans a $54 million investment to expand prepared foods production, reinforcing its diversification strategy.
- Fiscal 2026 net income attributable to the company remained positive at $316.7 million, or $6.63 per diluted share, despite market headwinds.
Negative
- Fiscal 2026 net sales declined from $4.3 billion to $2.9 billion, a drop of more than 30% year over year.
- Net income attributable to the company fell from about $1.2 billion in 2025 to $316.7 million in 2026, a reduction of more than 70%.
Filing Explained
The proxy sets voting mechanics now while leaving director elections, compensation approval, and auditor ratification for the October 2, 2026 vote.
This proxy sets the voting mechanics for the still-pending
As of the
For beneficial owners whose shares are held through brokers, broker non-votes have no effect on the director election or compensation vote; the auditor-ratification proposal is discretionary under the stated NYSE rules.
The board has fixed its size at ten directors and identifies seven as independent. The CEO and board chair roles are separate, with a lead independent director providing additional independent-board coordination.
The compensation disclosure also identifies unvested restricted share awards granted effective
The specified resolution points are the
Key Figures
Key Terms
broker non-vote financial
plurality of votes cast financial
Say on Pay financial
KSOP financial
clawback policy financial
Compensation Summary
| Name | Title | Total Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Adolphus B. Baker | ||
| Sherman L. Miller | ||
| Max P. Bowman | ||
| Robert L. Holladay, Jr. | ||
| Michael T. Walters |
- Election of three Class II directors to serve until the 2029 annual meeting.
- Advisory vote on the compensation of named executive officers (“Say on Pay”).
- Ratification of the selection of Frost, PLLC as independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2027.
FAQ
What key items will CALM stockholders vote on at the 2026 annual meeting?
When is the Cal-Maine Foods (CALM) 2026 annual meeting and who can vote?
How did Cal-Maine Foods (CALM) perform financially in fiscal 2026?
What strategic moves did Cal-Maine Foods (CALM) highlight in the proxy?
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AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
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Preliminary Proxy Statement
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12
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Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i) and 0-11
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Notice of
Annual Meeting
and
Proxy Statement
October 2, 2026
Table of Contents
| NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING | 1 |
| GENERAL MATTERS | 2 |
| Notice and Access | 2 |
| Stockholder List | 2 |
| Availability of Proxy Materials | 2 |
| Householding | 3 |
| Revocation of Proxies | 3 |
| Solicitation of Proxies | 3 |
| Record Date; Shares Outstanding | 3 |
| Voting; Quorum | 3 |
| Adjournment | 3 |
| Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes | 3 |
| Matters to be Considered; Voting Requirements; Board Recommendations | 4 |
| OWNERSHIP OF VOTING SECURITIES BY CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT | 6 |
| PROPOSAL NO. 1: ELECTION OF CLASS II DIRECTORS | 8 |
| DIRECTORS AND DIRECTOR NOMINEES | 9 |
| EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY | 19 |
| CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | 19 |
| Governance Highlights | 19 |
| Meetings and Attendance | 19 |
| Board Committees | 20 |
| Director Nomination Process and Consideration of Director Nominees | 21 |
| Skills and Experience | 22 |
| Stockholder Communications | 23 |
| Strategy Oversight | 23 |
| Risk Oversight | 23 |
| Sustainability | 23 |
| Non-Employee Director Stock Ownership Guidelines | 23 |
| Board Independence | 24 |
| Code of Ethics and Business Conduct | 24 |
| Insider Trading Policy | 24 |
| Board Leadership Structure | 24 |
| Related-Party Transactions | 25 |
| Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports | 25 |
| COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | 26 |
| Executive Summary | 26 |
| Compensation Philosophy and Process | 27 |
| Compensation Practices and Risks | 27 |
| Elements of Compensation | 27 |
| General Matters Regarding Executive Compensation | 29 |
| Compensation Advisors | 30 |
| Compensation Committee Report | 31 |
| Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation | 31 |
| COMPENSATION TABLES | 32 |
| POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL | 37 |
| PAY VERSUS PERFORMANCE | 40 |
| PAY-RATIO DISCLOSURE | 42 |
| DIRECTOR COMPENSATION | 43 |
| DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE | 43 |
| REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE | 43 |
| FEES AND RELATED DISCLOSURES FOR ACCOUNTING SERVICES | 44 |
| PROPOSAL NO. 2: ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS | 45 |
| PROPOSAL NO. 3: RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM | 46 |
| STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS | 46 |
| OTHER MATTERS | 46 |
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
October 2, 2026
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS:
The 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held at the Company’s corporate offices at 1052 Highland Colony Parkway, Suite 200, Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157, at 10:00 a.m., Central Time, on Friday, October 2, 2026 (the “Annual Meeting”), for the following purposes:
| 1. | To elect three Class II directors to serve for a term expiring at the Company’s 2029 annual meeting of stockholders; |
| 2. | To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers; |
| 3. | To ratify the selection of Frost, PLLC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2027; and |
| 4. | To consider and act upon such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof. |
August 7, 2026 has been fixed by the Board as the record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and to receive notice thereof. The accompanying proxy statement describes the matters being voted on at the Annual Meeting and contains other information relating to the Company.
Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting in person, it is important that your shares be represented and voted. So that we may be sure your vote will be included, please promptly submit your proxy and voting instructions via the internet, or sign, date and return a proxy card (if received by mail). Stockholders are encouraged to submit proxies as early as possible to avoid any possible delays.
| FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS | |
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| MAX P. BOWMAN, SECRETARY |
Dated: August 18, 2026
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD OCTOBER 2, 2026.
The proxy statement and the Company’s 2026 annual report to stockholders are available at
www.ProxyVote.com
CAL-MAINE FOODS, INC.
1052 Highland Colony Parkway, Suite 200
Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157
PROXY STATEMENT FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD OCTOBER 2, 2026
The information set forth in this proxy statement is being furnished by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (the “Company”) in connection with the Company’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on October 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., central time, at the Company’s principal executive offices, 1052 Highland Colony Parkway, Suite 200, Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157 (the “Annual Meeting”). The terms “we,” “us” and “our” used in this proxy statement refer to the Company.
GENERAL MATTERS
Notice and Access
In accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), we are permitted to furnish proxy materials, including this proxy statement, form of proxy card, and our Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended May 30, 2026 (the “Annual Report”), to stockholders by providing access to these documents on the internet instead of mailing printed copies. Most stockholders will not receive printed copies of the proxy materials unless requested. Instead, our notice of internet availability of proxy materials sent to you separately provides instructions on how to access and review the proxy materials on the internet. The notice also provides instructions on how to submit your proxy and voting instructions via the internet.
Stockholder List
If you would like to receive a printed or email copy of our proxy materials, please follow the instructions provided in the notice to request the materials. A list of the Company’s stockholders of record as of the record date of August 7, 2026 will be available for inspection by stockholders of the Company for any purpose germane to the meeting at the Company’s corporate offices for 10 days preceding the date of the Annual Meeting during ordinary business hours.
Availability of Proxy Materials
The following proxy materials are being made available, on or about August 18, 2026, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 7, 2026 free of charge at our website, https://investors.calmainefoods.com/resources/annual-meeting-of-shareholders or www.proxyvote.com:
| ● | The Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders; |
| ● | The Annual Report; and |
| ● | The form of proxy card for the Annual Meeting. |
Householding
We have adopted a procedure approved by the SEC called “householding.” Under this procedure, we will deliver only one copy of our notice of internet availability of proxy materials to stockholders who have the same address and last name unless one or more of these stockholders notifies us that they wish to receive individual copies. This procedure reduces our printing costs and postage fees. Although only one copy of our notice of internet availability of proxy materials will be delivered to each address, each stockholder sharing that address will continue to be able to access the proxy materials and submit his or her individual voting instructions. Upon written or oral request, we will deliver promptly separate copies of the notice to any stockholder that elects not to participate in householding. If you want to receive separate copies of our notice of internet availability of proxy materials, or if you do not wish to participate in householding in the future, or if any stockholders sharing an address are receiving multiple copies of our notice of internet availability of proxy materials and would like to request delivery of a single copy, you can make these requests through the following sources:
| ● | Stockholders of record should contact the Company’s Secretary in writing or by telephone at Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., ATTN: Max P. Bowman, Secretary, 1052 Highland Colony Parkway, Suite 200, Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157, telephone number (601) 948-6813. |
| ● | Stockholders who are beneficial owners should contact their bank, broker or other nominee record holder. |
Revocation of Proxies
A proxy may be revoked by a stockholder at any time before it is voted by filing with our Secretary a written revocation of such proxy or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date. The proxy also may be revoked by a stockholder attending the Annual Meeting, withdrawing their proxy and voting in person.
Solicitation of Proxies
The Board is soliciting your proxy to vote your shares on all matters scheduled to come before the Annual Meeting. The Company is not using a proxy solicitor. All expenses incurred in connection with the solicitation of proxies will be paid by us. Our directors, officers, and regular employees may solicit proxies in person, by telephone, mail, email, telecopy or employee communications. We will not pay such persons additional compensation for their proxy solicitation efforts. We will, upon request, reimburse banks, brokerage houses and other institutions, and fiduciaries for their expenses in forwarding proxy materials to their principals.
Record Date; Shares Outstanding
Stockholders of record at the close of business on August 7, 2026, are eligible to vote at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy. As of the record date, 46,915,895 shares of our common stock were outstanding (including 209,902 shares of unvested restricted common stock issued under our Amended and Restated 2012 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended, that have voting rights).
Voting; Quorum
Each share of our common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter to be considered at the Annual Meeting. If you are a stockholder of record and you do not return a proxy, your shares will not be voted. If you are a stockholder of record and you make no specifications on your proxy card, your shares of our common stock will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the Board, as provided below.
The holders of a majority of the voting power of the Company’s capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, present in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting.
Adjournment
If a quorum is not present in person or by proxy, the chairperson of the meeting or the holders of shares representing a majority of the voting power present in person or by proxy, though less than a quorum, may adjourn the meeting from time to time, until a quorum is present. Notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless the adjournment is for more than 30 days. At the adjourned meeting, the Company may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting.
Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes
Abstentions occur when stockholders are present at the Annual Meeting but fail to vote or voluntarily withhold their vote for any of the matters upon which the stockholders are voting. Abstentions are counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present and will have the same effect as a vote against proposals other than the election of directors.
If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account by a bank, broker or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and these proxy materials are being made available to you by your bank, broker or other nominee that is considered the stockholder of record of those shares. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your bank, broker or other nominee on how to vote your shares and your bank, broker or other nominee will send you instructions on how to submit your voting instructions.
If you are a beneficial owner and you do not provide voting instructions to your bank, broker or other nominee holding shares for you, your shares will not be voted with respect to any proposal for which the stockholder of record does not have discretionary authority to vote. Rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) governing brokers (regardless of the exchange on which the company is listed) determine whether proposals presented at stockholder meetings are “discretionary” or “non-discretionary.” If a proposal is determined to be discretionary, your bank, broker or other nominee is permitted under NYSE rules to vote on the proposal without receiving voting instructions from you. If a proposal is determined to be non-discretionary, NYSE rules prohibit your bank, broker or other nominee from voting on the proposal without receiving voting instructions from you. A “broker non-vote” occurs when a bank, broker or other nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner returns a valid proxy, but does not vote on a particular proposal because it does not have discretionary authority to vote on the matter and has not received voting instructions from the stockholder for whom it is holding shares.
Under the NYSE rules, the proposals relating to the election of directors and the advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers are considered non-discretionary proposals and the proposal relating to the ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm is a discretionary proposal. As such, if you are a beneficial owner and you do not provide voting instructions to your bank, broker or other nominee holding shares for you, your shares will not be voted with respect to the election of directors or the advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers, and your shares may be voted with respect to the ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm.
Matters to be Considered; Voting Requirements; Board Recommendations
The following table summarizes the votes required for passage of each proposal and the effect of abstentions, withheld votes and uninstructed shares held by brokers.
| Proposal | Voting Options |
Votes Required To Adopt Proposal
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Effect of Abstentions / Withheld Votes |
Effect of Broker Non-Votes
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| No. 1: Election of Class II directors | For or withhold on each nominee | Plurality of votes cast (1) | No effect | No effect |
| No. 2: Approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers (“Say on Pay”) | For, against, or abstain | Affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Company’s capital stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter (2) | Treated as votes against | No effect |
| No. 3: Ratification of selection of Frost, PLLC as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2027 | For, against, or abstain | Affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Company’s capital stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter | Treated as votes against | N/A (3) |
| (1) | The election of directors requires a plurality of the votes cast, which means the candidates receiving the highest number of “FOR” votes will be elected. |
| (2) | Although the vote is non-binding, the Board will consider the outcome of the advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers (the “say-on-pay vote”) when establishing our compensation philosophy and in making future compensation decisions. |
| (3) | Because banks, brokers, trustees and other nominees will have discretionary authority with respect to Proposal 3, there should be no broker non-votes for this item. Broker non-votes, if any, on Proposal 3 would have no effect on such proposal. |
The Board unanimously recommends that you vote:
| ● | FOR the election of each Class II director nominee named in this proxy statement to serve as a director of the Company for a term expiring at the Company’s 2029 annual meeting of stockholders; |
| ● | FOR the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers; and |
| ● | FOR the ratification of our selection of Frost, PLLC as independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for fiscal year 2027. |
We do not expect any matters to be presented for action at our Annual Meeting other than the matters described in this proxy statement. However, by completing, dating, signing and returning a proxy card, or by submitting your proxy and voting instructions via the internet, you will give to the persons named as proxies discretionary voting authority with respect to any other matter that may properly come before the Annual Meeting, and they intend to vote on any such other matter in accordance with their best judgment.
In accordance with Delaware law and the Company’s bylaws, the Company will appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the Annual Meeting and make a written report in accordance with law.
OWNERSHIP OF VOTING SECURITIES BY CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information as to the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of August 7, 2026, unless otherwise indicated, by:
| ● | each person known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock outstanding, |
| ● | each current director of the Company, each director nominee, and each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table (each a “named executive officer”), and |
| ● | all directors and executive officers as a group. |
| Name of Beneficial Owner (1) | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned (2) |
Percentage Outstanding (1) | |||
| Adolphus B. Baker (3) | 1,504,175 | 3.2 | % | ||
| Melanie Boulden (4) | 2,248 | * | |||
| Max P. Bowman (5) | 17,741 | * | |||
| Haley R Fisackerly (6) | 1,301 | * | |||
| Michael J. Highfield (7) | 1,301 | * | |||
| Robert L. Holladay, Jr. (8) | 24,964 | * | |||
| Letitia C. Hughes (9) | 45,053 | * | |||
| Sherman L. Miller (10) | 34,464 | * | |||
| Steve W. Sanders (11) | 27,712 | * | |||
| Michael T. Walters (12) | 15,696 | * | |||
| Dudley D. Wooley (13) | 1,284 | * | |||
| Camille S. Young (14) | 9,931 | * | |||
| BlackRock, Inc. (15) | 6,217,701 | 13.3 | % | ||
| The Vanguard Group (16) | 4,771,655 | 10.2 | % | ||
| Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (17) | 2,519,483 | 5.4 | % | ||
| Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. KSOP | 1,869,001 | 4.0 | % | ||
| All directors and executive officers as a group (14 persons) (18) | 1,697,343 | 3.6 | % | ||
* Less than 1%
| (1) | Unless otherwise set forth in the footnotes below, the mailing address of each beneficial owner is Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., 1052 Highland Colony Parkway, Suite 200, Ridgeland, MS 39157. Percentage ownership reflected in the table is based on 46,915,895 shares of our common stock outstanding as of August 7, 2026 (including 209,902 shares of unvested restricted common stock issued under our Amended and Restated 2012 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended, that have voting rights). |
| (2) | The information as to beneficial ownership is based on information known to us or statements furnished to us by the beneficial owners. As used in this table, “beneficial ownership” has the meaning given in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), i.e., the sole or shared power to vote or to direct the voting of a security, or the sole or shared investment power with respect to a security (the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of a security). For purposes of this table, a person is deemed as of any date to have “beneficial ownership” of any security that such person has the right to acquire within 60 days of such date. Unless otherwise indicated, shares shown in the table are held with sole voting and dispositive power. |
| (3) | Adolphus B. Baker is the Company’s Board Chair. The 1,504,153 shares of our common stock include: (i) 1,115,428 shares with respect to which he has sole voting and dispositive power (except for 46 shares he and his spouse Dinnette Adams Baker, own as joint tenants in common, and with respect to which he has shared voting and dispositive power); (ii) 147,686 shares of our common stock that he owns through the Company’s KSOP (as of August 7, 2026); (iii) 4,155 shares of unvested restricted stock, with respect to which Mr. Baker has sole voting power and no dispositive power; and (iv) 236,906 shares of our common stock owned by Mr. Baker’s spouse separately as to which Mr. Baker disclaims beneficial ownership (including 6,336 shares of our common stock that Mrs. Baker owns through the Company’s KSOP). |
| (4) | Ms. Boulden is a director. Includes 2,248 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
| (5) | Mr. Bowman is a director, a director nominee, and is our Vice President – Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Secretary. Includes 1,726 shares of our common stock accumulated under his KSOP account and 5,959 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
| (6) | Mr. Fisackerly is a director and a director nominee. Includes 1,301 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
| (7) | Mr. Highfield is a director. Includes 1,301 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
| (8) | Mr. Holladay is our Vice President – General Counsel. Includes 6,491 shares of our common stock accumulated under his KSOP account and 5,316 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
| (9) | Ms. Hughes is a director and a director nominee. Includes 4,155 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
| (10) | Mr. Miller is a director and is President and Chief Executive Officer. Includes 1,512 shares of our common stock accumulated under his spouse’s KSOP account as to which Mr. Miller disclaims beneficial ownership, 6,053 shares of our common stock accumulated under Mr. Miller’s KSOP account, and 8,614 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
| (11) | Mr. Sanders is a director. Includes 4,155 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
| (12) | Mr. Walters is Vice President – Operations and Chief Operating Officer. Includes 7,693 shares of our common stock accumulated under Mr. Walters’ KSOP account, and 5,414 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
| (13) | Mr. Wooley is a director. Includes 1,284 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
| (14) | Ms. Young is a director. Includes 4,155 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
| (15) | This information is based solely on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on April 30, 2025, by BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”). The Schedule 13G/A reports that BlackRock has sole voting power over 6,141,502 of such shares and sole dispositive power over 6,217,701 of such shares. BlackRock’s address is 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001. |
| (16) | This information is based solely on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 13, 2024, by The Vanguard Group (“Vanguard”). The Schedule 13G/A reports that Vanguard has shared voting power over 74,163 of such shares, sole dispositive power over 4,654,752 of such shares, and shared dispositive power over 116,903 of such shares. Vanguard’s address is 100 Vanguard Blvd., Malvern, PA 19355. |
| (17) | This information is based solely on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on April 9, 2026 by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (“Dimensional”). The Schedule 13G reports that Dimensional has sole voting power over 2,466,846 shares and sole dispositive power over 2,519,483 shares. Dimensional’s address is 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746. |
| (18) | In addition to the shares beneficially owned by the directors and named executive officers identified in the table and described in the preceding footnotes, the number of shares beneficially owned by all directors and executive officers as a group includes 11,393 shares beneficially owned by two other executive officers (including 4,735 shares of unvested restricted stock and 975 shares of our common stock accumulated under the KSOP). A total of 178,472 shares of our common stock accumulated in the KSOP for the benefit of the directors and executive officers referenced above and their spouses are included in the 1,869,001 shares shown in the table as owned by the KSOP. |
PROPOSAL NO. 1: ELECTION OF CLASS II DIRECTORS
Our Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (“charter”) and our bylaws provide that the number of directors shall be fixed by resolution of the Board and that such number may not be less than three nor more than 12. The Board has fixed the number of directors at ten as of the date of the Annual Meeting.
Our charter provides that directors are divided into three classes to be as nearly equal in number as is practicable, with each class elected for three-year terms. Each director holds office until that director’s successor is duly elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. Our directors are classified into the following three classes:
| ● | Class I directors are Melanie Boulden, Sherman L. Miller and Camille S. Young, and their terms will expire at the 2028 annual meeting of stockholders; |
| ● | Class II directors are Max P. Bowman, Haley R. Fisackerly and Letitia C. Hughes, and their terms will expire at the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders; and |
| ● | Class III directors are Adolphus B. Baker, Michael J. Highfield, Steve W. Sanders and Dudley D. Wooley, and their terms will expire at the 2027 annual meeting of stockholders. |
The Board, upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, has nominated Max P. Bowman, Haley R. Fisackerly and Letitia C. Hughes for election as Class II directors at the Annual Meeting (each a “Director Nominee” and collectively, the “Director Nominees”). Each Director Nominee is currently a director of the Company and each Director Nominee has consented to being named as a director nominee in this proxy statement and to serve as a director if elected. If elected, each Director Nominee will hold office until the Company’s 2029 annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her respective successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.
Unless otherwise specified, proxies will be voted FOR the election of each of the Director Nominees named above. If, at the time of the Annual Meeting, any of the Director Nominees named above are unable to serve or for good cause will not serve, the proxies will be voted for the election of such other person or persons as the Board may designate in its discretion, unless otherwise directed.
Under our bylaws, our directors are elected by a plurality of votes cast. For more information on the voting requirements, see “General Matters—Matters to be Considered; Voting Requirements; Board Recommendations” above.
The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” each Director Nominee.
DIRECTORS AND DIRECTOR NOMINEES
Below is biographical information about each of our current directors and Director Nominees, including information regarding tenure as a director of the Company, business experience and qualifications, education and other public company directorships. In addition to the qualifications referred to below, see Corporate Governance – Skills Matrix for information regarding the specific skills of each of our directors and Director Nominees.
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Adolphus B. Baker (Class III)
Board Chair, Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. |
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| Age | Director Since |
Committees | Other Public Company Directorships |
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| 69 | 1991 | • Executive (Chair) |
Trustmark Corporation and Trustmark Bank
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| Business Experience, Qualifications, Attributes and Skills | ||||
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Adolphus B. Baker serves as Board Chair. He was elected as Board Chair in 2012. Previously, Mr. Baker served as Company Chief Executive Officer from 2010 to 2022, President from 2010 to 2018, and as Chief Operations Officer from 1997 to 2010. Mr. Baker served as Company Vice President and Director of Marketing from 1987 to 2010. Mr. Baker joined Cal-Maine Foods in 1986 as Company Assistant to the President.
Mr. Baker has guided Cal-Maine Foods’ emergence as the largest producer and distributor of fresh shell eggs and egg products in the United States. During his tenure, the Company has identified, acquired and successfully integrated 26 companies that have driven enterprise growth. Mr. Baker was also instrumental in delivering the Company’s 1996 initial public offering and Nasdaq listing (Nasdaq: CALM). Mr. Baker’s focus on prudential growth helped drive net sales of $293 million in fiscal 1997 to the Company’s highest net sales of $3.1 billion in fiscal 2023. He helped the Company align enterprise production, sales and distribution capabilities to generate annual sales volumes in excess of one billion dozen shell eggs beginning in fiscal 2014, which represented about 21% of United States domestic shell egg consumption at that time. Mr. Baker has helped expand the Company’s total addressable market through our growth strategies. Notably, Mr. Baker has supervised the installation of an asset base that helps the Company provide a spectrum of food choices across product categories.
As Board Chair, Mr. Baker remains actively involved in managing the Company, with a focus on strategy, capital allocation, advising the senior management team and leading the Board. Mr. Baker also leverages his deep experience and diverse skillset to advise the Company on its engagement with stakeholders.
Mr. Baker currently serves on the Board of Directors of Eggland’s Best, Inc., and the board of managers of Eggland’s Best, LLC. He previously served as Chairman of the American Egg Board, United Egg Producers, Egg Clearinghouse, Inc. and the Mississippi Poultry Association. He has also previously served as a Director of United Egg Producers. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Trustmark Corporation and its subsidiary, Trustmark Bank, formerly Trustmark National Bank.
Mr. Baker earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mississippi State University in 1980. He is the son-in-law of the late Fred R. Adams, Jr., the Company’s founder. The Board believes that Mr. Baker’s highly informed view of Company operations, his depth and breadth of experience and his continued poultry industry engagement qualify him to serve on the Board.
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Melanie Boulden (Class I)
Former Executive Vice President, Chief Growth Officer, Tyson Foods, Inc. |
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| Age | Director Since |
Committees | Other Public Company Directorships |
|
| 54 | 2025 |
• Audit • Compensation • Nominating and Corporate Governance |
Adobe Inc.
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| Business Experience, Qualifications, Attributes and Skills | ||||
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Melanie Boulden was appointed to the Board as an independent director in 2025. Ms. Boulden formerly served as the Group President of the Prepared Foods business unit from September 2023 to October 2024 and Executive Vice President, Chief Growth Officer from February 2023 to May 2025 for Tyson Foods, Inc. (“Tyson Foods”), a multinational protein-focused food company. As Group President of Tyson Foods’ Prepared Foods business unit, Ms. Boulden had full P&L responsibility, leading a multibillion-dollar retail, foodservice and ecommerce portfolio, which included beloved and category-leading brands, such as Jimmy Dean®, Hillshire Farm® and Ball Park®. She was responsible for several manufacturing facilities and more than 19,000 team members. As Executive Vice President, Chief Growth Officer, Ms. Boulden led innovation, research and development, consumer insights and analytics, demand planning, marketing communications, and corporate communications across the enterprise.
Ms. Boulden previously held roles as Chief Marketing Officer of the North America operating unit of The Coca-Cola Company from January 2021 to December 2022, leading a multibillion-dollar brand portfolio consisting of more than 20 brands; President of the Still Beverages business unit at Coca-Cola North America from April 2020 to January 2021, leading the water, sports drinks, tea and coffee businesses; and President and General Manager of Venturing and Emerging Brands at Coca-Cola North America from August 2019 to April 2020. Ms. Boulden’s earlier corporate experience includes senior global marketing roles at Reebok International, Ltd., Crayola LLC, Kraft Foods Group Inc., and Henkel Consumer Goods, USA.
Ms. Boulden currently serves on the board of directors of Adobe Inc. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Iowa with concentrations in finance and marketing. The Board believes that Ms. Boulden’s deep expertise in the food, beverage and protein industry and nearly three decades of business management and brand-building experience qualify her to serve on the Board.
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Max P. Bowman (Class II)
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. |
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| Age | Director Since |
Committees | Other Public Company Directorships |
|
| 66 | 2018 | • Executive |
None
|
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| Business Experience, Qualifications, Attributes and Skills | ||||
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Max P. Bowman has served as Company Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since October 5, 2018, when he was elected to the Board. Mr. Bowman also serves as treasurer and secretary. He joined the Company in June 2018 as Vice President, Finance. Mr. Bowman is a Certified Public Accountant who has extensive experience leading corporate finance and accounting, financial reporting, risk management and merger and acquisition efforts. Mr. Bowman is responsible for the Company’s business line finance group, accounting and financial reporting, corporate development, financial planning and analysis, human capital, information technology, investor relations, risk management and sustainability functions.
Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Bowman served as Chief Financial Officer of Southern States Utility Trailer Sales and H&P Leasing from 2014 to 2018. In 2003, Mr. Bowman co-founded Tenax, LLC, a holding company for Tenax Aerospace, a special-mission aircraft-leasing company. At Tenax, Mr. Bowman served as chief executive officer, chief financial officer and president. From 1985 to 2002, Mr. Bowman served in progressive roles of responsibility at ChemFirst, Inc. (NYSE: CEM), a diversified global agricultural, intermediate and fine chemical manufacturer and provider of electronic materials and chemicals to the semiconductor industry that was previously listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Mr. Bowman was appointed as Chief Financial Officer of ChemFirst in 1997 and served in this role until ChemFirst was sold to DuPont Co in December 2002. Prior to that, Mr. Bowman began at Arthur Andersen & Company in 1982 where he was serving as a Senior Auditor when he left the firm in 1985.
Mr. Bowman’s earlier board service includes Tenax and WGS Systems. He earned a Bachelor of Accountancy Degree from Mississippi State University. The Board believes that Mr. Bowman’s extensive experience in managing the finance divisions of public and private companies and successful dealmaking track record qualify him to serve on the Board.
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Haley R. Fisackerly (Class II)
President and Chief Executive Officer, Entergy Mississippi, LLC |
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| Age | Director Since |
Committees | Other Public Company Directorships |
|
| 61 | 2026 |
• Audit • Compensation • Nominating and Corporate Governance |
None | |
| Business Experience, Qualifications, Attributes and Skills | ||||
|
Haley R. Fisackerly was appointed to the Board as an independent director in June 2026. Mr. Fisackerly brings more than three decades of leadership experience in utility operations, regulatory affairs, customer service, public policy, and economic development. He is president and CEO of Entergy Mississippi, serving more than 459,000 customers in 45 Mississippi counties. Since being named to his current role in 2008, Mr. Fisackerly led Entergy Mississippi to see a steady rise in customer satisfaction scores, as well as increased recognition of economic development efforts and community support.
Mr. Fisackerly was previously vice president of customer operations at Entergy Mississippi, vice president of governmental and regulatory affairs at Entergy Nuclear, and director of system regulatory strategy. Prior to joining Entergy in 1995, Mr. Fisackerly was a staff member of U.S. Senator Thad Cochran’s office in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Fisackerly serves on the boards of directors of various organizations, including Mississippi Business Alliance, Mississippi Partnership for Economic Development, Foundation for Mississippi History, Woodward Hines Education Foundation, the Mississippi Energy Institute, Foundation for Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks, Mississippi State University College of Business Executive Advisory Board. He also serves on the board of directors of privately-held BankFirst Financial Services.
Mr. Fisackerly earned his master’s degree in public policy administration from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Mississippi State University. He was named the Mississippi State University College of Business Alumnus of the Year in 2016. The Board believes that Mr. Fisackerly’s experience in utility operations, regulatory affairs, customer service, public policy, and economic development qualify him to serve on the Board.
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Michael J. Highfield, Ph.D., CFA, CTP, ChBP (Class III)
President and Chief Academic Officer, Graduate School of Banking at LSU |
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| Age | Director Since |
Committees | Other Public Company Directorships |
|
| 49 | 2026 |
• Audit • Compensation • Nominating and Corporate Governance |
None | |
| Business Experience, Qualifications, Attributes and Skills | ||||
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Michael J. Highfield was appointed to the Board as an independent director in June 2026. Mr. Highfield brings more than two decades of experience in finance, banking, capital markets, governance, and executive leadership. He is the President and Chief Academic Officer of the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University (“LSU”), providing executive leadership for the institution’s academic programs, strategic initiatives, institutional effectiveness, and long-term growth.
Mr. Highfield previously served as Provost and Executive Vice President at Mississippi Christian University from 2023 to 2026, after serving on the faculty at Louisiana Tech University from 2002 to 2005 and Mississippi State University from 2005 to 2023, where he served as Professor of Finance, Robert W. Warren Chair of Real Estate Finance and Head of the Department of Finance and Economics.
During his 18-year tenure at Mississippi State, Mr. Highfield also held several key leadership roles, including, faculty representative on the MSU Foundation Investment Committee, chair of the Department Head Executive Committee, and chair of the university’s Financial Conflict of Interest Committee.
Mr. Highfield is a consultant for the CFA Institute and past president of the American Real Estate Society. He serves on the Board of Directors of a mutual health insurance company, a private life insurance company, the Mississippi Higher Education Assistance Corporation and the Woodward Hines Educational Foundation where he chairs the investment committee.
Mr. Highfield earned a BBA and MBA from Mississippi State University, followed by a MS in Economics and a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Kentucky. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Treasury Professional (CTP), and Chartered Banking Professional (ChBP) designations. The Board believes that Mr. Highfield’s more than two decades of experience in finance, banking, capital markets, governance, and executive leadership qualify him to serve on the Board.
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Letitia C. Hughes (Class II)
Retired Senior Vice President, Trustmark Bank |
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| Age | Director Since |
Committees | Other Public Company Directorships |
|
| 74 | 2001 |
• Audit (Chair) • Compensation • Nominating and Corporate Governance |
None | |
| Business Experience, Qualifications, Attributes and Skills | ||||
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Letitia C. Hughes was elected to the Board as an independent director in 2001, and appointed as lead independent director on March 25, 2025. Ms. Hughes retired as Senior Vice President and Manager of Private Banking at Trustmark Bank in Jackson, Mississippi, in 2014 after more than forty years of service as a private wealth management expert, industry vertical banker and credit analyst. During her career, Ms. Hughes earned progressively more senior roles tied to financial services, human capital management and technology management, among other capabilities. She served as a subject matter expert for customer privacy, bank secrecy and anti-money laundering governance initiatives. Ms. Hughes also helped the bank develop standards for measuring progress against key legal, compliance and performance objectives.
Ms. Hughes most recently served as Senior Vice President at Trustmark. She focused her career on private banking from 1995 until her retirement. Ms. Hughes helped high net-worth individuals and their families meet their financial goals by providing holistic wealth planning capabilities, including financial analysis, real estate and portfolio management solutions and insurance, tax and trust-planning services. Between 1980 and 1995, Ms. Hughes served as a relationship manager for small- and medium-size corporate clients and offered merger and acquisition advisory services in addition to loan-origination capabilities across industry verticals, including manufacturing, food processing and heavy equipment leasing and finance, among others. In 1975, Ms. Hughes was promoted to a generalist credit analyst role dedicated to support the bank’s risk management efforts. She began her career with Trustmark in 1974 as a management trainee. During her career, Ms. Hughes maintained active Series 6, Series 7 and Series 63 licenses.
Ms. Hughes continues to contribute to community organizations, including serving in a number of leadership and advisory roles in the Jackson, Mississippi, area. Notably, she previously served as President of the Junior League of Jackson, Mississippi. Ms. Hughes has served on the Board of Trustees of Methodist Rehabilitation Center (“MRC”) in Jackson since 2007. Since 2012, she has also supported the MRC’s Wilson Research Foundation, which is devoted to build a research and education program to advance the clinical practice of neurorehabilitation, with board service and Investment Committee participation and oversight.
Ms. Hughes earned her B.S. in Math from Vanderbilt University in 1974. The Board believes that Ms. Hughes’ broad audit, finance and banking experience, in addition to her general knowledge of the Company’s operating environment, qualify her to serve on the Board.
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Sherman L. Miller (Class I)
President and Chief Executive Officer, Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. |
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| Age | Director Since |
Committees | Other Public Company Directorships |
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| 51 | 2012 | • Executive | None | |
| Business Experience, Qualifications, Attributes and Skills | ||||
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Sherman L. Miller was elected to the Board in 2012. He has devoted his entire professional career to the Company since joining in 1996, serving in various positions of increasing responsibility. He has served as President since 2018 and was elected as Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) in 2022. Mr. Miller previously served as Chief Operating Officer (“COO”) from 2011 to 2023, where he had primary responsibility for commodity sourcing, procurement and distribution logistics, as well as oversight for the Company risk policies tied to food safety, environmental management and animal welfare.
Mr. Miller is a widely recognized animal protein industry expert. He brings extensive experience in attracting and retaining the talent base necessary to support the Company’s growth strategy, both organically and through acquisitions. He also brings a deep understanding of the regulatory landscape that governs how safe, quality food is produced, processed and brought to market.
As CEO, Mr. Miller is a proven leader in managing our business through the various market cycles that are characteristic of our industry. His strategic vision is focused on the Company’s long-term growth and value creation for all our stakeholders, including our customers, employees, investors, the communities we serve, the chickens under our care, and the families who rely on us for quality egg products.
Mr. Miller’s current and prior board service includes contributions to the United Egg Producers, the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association and the Mississippi State University Poultry Science Advisory Board, among others. He earned his B.S. in Poultry Science from Mississippi State University, where he currently serves as the Distinguished Fellow for the Department of Poultry Science.
The Board believes that Mr. Miller’s recognized and substantial industry experience, operational expertise, track record of innovation and successful execution of the Company’s strategies qualify him to serve on the Board.
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Steve W. Sanders (Class III)
Retired Partner, Ernst & Young |
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| Age | Director Since |
Committees | Other Public Company Directorships |
|
| 80 | 2009 |
• Audit • Compensation • Nominating and Corporate Governance (Chair) |
None | |
| Business Experience, Qualifications, Attributes and Skills | ||||
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Steve W. Sanders was elected to the Board as an independent director in 2009. Mr. Sanders is a Certified Public Accountant who retired as Managing Partner of the Ernst & Young LLP, Jackson, Mississippi, office after more than 30 years of service. Mr. Sanders has extensive audit, merger and acquisition accounting and valuation-advisory experience. In his practice, Mr. Sanders advised private companies searching for bolt-on acquisitions and engaging in initial public offerings. Mr. Sanders also has broad experience providing industry verticals with audit services and various acquisition audits and related services.
Mr. Sanders was promoted to partner at Ernst & Young in 1986. During his tenure, Mr. Sanders was increasingly responsible for human capital management, including hiring, retention and client-side staffing for the Jackson, Mississippi office. He also supervised the Jackson, Mississippi office’s ethics, legal and regulatory compliance prior to his retirement in 2002 as Managing Partner. Mr. Sanders’ early career included experience working part-time at a poultry company, which gave him insight into the poultry industry’s operating needs.
Mr. Sanders served as a Lecturer at the Richard C. Adkerson School of Accountancy at Mississippi State University, where he taught accounting and auditing courses from 2003 until his retirement in 2017. His previous board service includes a directorship of Valley Services, Inc., a privately held national contract food services manager, from 2002 until Elior North America acquired the business in 2012. Mr. Sanders’ community activities include service to Broadmoor Baptist Church in Madison, Mississippi, including as the former Chairman of its Finance Committee.
Mr. Sanders earned his B.S. of Accountancy at Mississippi State University in 1968 and Masters in Business Administration in 1969. The Board believes that Mr. Sanders’ extensive audit, accounting and finance experience, in addition to his human capital management and leadership record, qualify him to serve on the Board.
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Dudley D. Wooley (Class III)
Chief Executive Officer, Ross & Yerger Insurance, Inc. |
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| Age | Director Since |
Committees | Other Public Company Directorships |
|
| 60 | 2026 |
• Audit • Compensation • Nominating and Corporate Governance |
None | |
| Business Experience, Qualifications, Attributes and Skills | ||||
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Dudley D. Wooley was appointed to the Board as an independent director in March 2026. Mr. Wooley brings extensive leadership experience in risk management, business strategy, and governance. Mr. Wooley currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Ross & Yerger Insurance, Inc., a super-regional, employee-owned independent insurance agency headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi. With more than three decades at the firm, he has played a central role in shaping its growth, leadership, and long-term strategic direction. He was promoted to CEO/COO in 2013 and has served as CEO since 2025, with responsibility for overall leadership and performance of the organization.
Mr. Wooley served as President and Chief Operating Officer with Ross & Yerger Insurance, Inc., where he led agency growth and profitability initiatives, developed the firm’s perpetuation strategy, and supported its sales and management teams.
In addition to his executive responsibilities, Mr. Wooley serves as a Trustee of the Jones Family Trusts, helping oversee a diversified portfolio of assets across public equities, private equity, real estate, oil and gas, and fixed income investments on behalf of approximately 170 beneficiaries.
Mr. Wooley began his career with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) and later worked at Marketing Research Institute, where he developed experience in consulting, analytics, and client advisory.
Mr. Wooley holds a MBA from Millsaps College and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Vanderbilt University. He is a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Certified Risk Manager (CRM), Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), and Accredited Adviser in Insurance (AAI). The Board believes that Mr. Wooley’s extensive leadership experience in risk management, business strategy, and governance qualify him to serve on the Board.
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Camille S. Young (Class I)
Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs |
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| Age | Director Since |
Committees | Other Public Company Directorships |
|
| 53 | 2021 |
• Audit • Compensation (Chair) • Nominating and Corporate Governance |
Mississippi Power Company | |
| Business Experience, Qualifications, Attributes and Skills | ||||
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Camille S. Young was elected to the Board as an independent director in 2021. Ms. Young brings more than thirty years of government affairs experience with Mississippi’s elected state and local government officials. Ms. Young maintains deep relationships with business leaders and community influencers nationally and across the state of Mississippi. She deploys her issue expertise and relationships to help clients navigate policies, create and drive effective advocacy campaigns, utilize business and development opportunities and craft successful public affairs efforts. In her practice, Ms. Young also helps clients pursue mergers and acquisitions, navigate supply chain complexities and manage value chain risks.
Ms. Young currently serves as Managing Principal of Cornerstone Government Affairs, a full-service, bipartisan consulting firm specializing in federal and state government relations, public affairs and strategic communications and advisory services. At Cornerstone, Ms. Young co-chairs the firm’s Mentorship Working Group. Ms. Young joined the firm in 2011.
Previously, Ms. Young served as a government affairs representative with one of Mississippi’s leading law firms, Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, from 2001 to 2011, where she was a member of the Government Affairs practice group. She was responsible for managing clients’ legislative advocacy, public affairs and community relations efforts. Prior to joining Watkins Ludlam, Ms. Young served the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation for five years in various roles as a communications specialist, director of media relations and a government relations specialist.
Ms. Young served as a member of the inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Madison County Business League and Foundation in Mississippi. She previously served as President of the Mississippi State University National Alumni Association. Ms. Young has contributed to community activities such as the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership Board of Directors, the Junior League of Jackson Sustainers Board of Directors, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and the Mississippi 4-H Foundation. Ms. Young’s public board service includes Mississippi Power Company, a subsidiary of Southern Company. She also serves on the board of privately-held BankFirst Financial Services.
Ms. Young earned her B.A. in Communication Management and M.S. in Agriculture & Extension Education from Mississippi State University. The Board believes that Ms. Young’s extensive human capital, government and regulatory relations, risk management and strategic planning experience qualify her to serve on the Board.
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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
The following information sets forth the name, age, principal occupation and business experience during the last five years of each of the current executive officers of the Company. The executive officers serve at the pleasure of the Board.
ADOLPHUS B. BAKER, age 69, is Board Chair. See previous description under “Directors and Director Nominees.”
SHERMAN L. MILLER, age 51, is President, Chief Executive Officer and a director. See previous description under “Directors and Director Nominees.”
MAX P. BOWMAN, age 66, is Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary and a director. See previous description under “Directors and Director Nominees.”
ROBERT L. HOLLADAY, JR., age 50, is Vice President – General Counsel. Mr. Holladay joined the Company and was appointed to this position in 2011.
MICHAEL T. WALTERS, age 55, is Vice President – Operations and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Walters has served as a Vice President since 2011. He was appointed as Chief Operating Officer by the Board in 2023.
SCOTT D. HULL, age 39, is Vice President – Sales. Mr. Hull assumed the executive officer role in 2024 and has served as Vice President - Sales since 2021. Prior to that time, Mr. Hull served as National Sales Manager from 2016 to 2021. Mr. Hull previously served as a general manager at the Company’s Louisburg, North Carolina, location before joining the sales team in 2014. He has been with the Company since 2009.
KEIRA L. LOMBARDO, age 45, is Chief Strategy Officer. She joined the Company and was appointed to this position in 2025. Prior to joining the Company, she served as Chief Executive Officer of Dairy MAX Inc., a large-scale dairy organization representing approximately 700 farm families across eight states from 2024 to 2025. From 2020 to 2022, she served as Chief Administrative Officer at Smithfield Foods, Inc. (Nasdaq: SFD), a public company producing a wide variety of packaged meats and fresh pork products primarily in the U.S. Prior to that time, she served as Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Compliance at Smithfield starting in 2019 and in various other corporate and investor relations positions at Smithfield from 2002 to 2019.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Governance Highlights
The following table summarizes our key corporate governance practices, which we believe demonstrate our commitment to good corporate governance:
| ✓ | 7 out of 10 directors independent | ✓ | Annual Board and committee evaluations |
| ✓ | Lead Independent Director | ✓ | Demonstrated Board refreshment |
| ✓ | Fully independent Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees | ✓ | Limitations on public company board and committee service, including a limitation on audit committee service for members of the Audit Committee |
| ✓ | Separation of Board Chair and CEO roles | ✓ | Clawback Policy |
| ✓ | Regular executive sessions | ✓ | Anti-hedging and limited pledging policy |
| ✓ | Stock ownership guidelines for non-employee directors and executive officers | ✓ | Robust Corporate Governance Guidelines |
| ✓ | Code of Ethics and Business Conduct |
Meetings and Attendance
Each year, the Board holds regularly scheduled quarterly meetings and may hold special meetings from time to time. Normally, if the Board committees hold meetings, such meetings are typically the same day as the Board’s regular meetings and the Board committees may also hold special meetings from time to time. At each quarterly Board meeting, time is set aside for the independent directors to meet in executive session without management present. The Board held four regularly scheduled quarterly meetings, four special meetings, and took action by written consent five times during fiscal year 2026. All of our directors attended 100% of the total Board meetings and meetings of the committees on which they served during their tenure in fiscal year 2026. Directors are encouraged to attend each of the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders, and all directors then in office attended the Company’s 2025 annual meeting.
Board Committees
The Board has four standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and an Executive Committee. In addition, under our bylaws our Board may designate additional committees as it deems appropriate. The Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees have written charters which are available on the “Investor Relations – Corporate Governance” page of our website at www.calmainefoods.com. The Executive Committee does not have a charter. In accordance with its charter, from time to time the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviews, and as appropriate recommends to the Board, potential changes with respect to the Board’s committees. The table below provides the composition of each of the Board’s standing committees as of the date of this proxy statement.
| Director | Audit | Compensation | Nominating and Corporate Governance | Executive |
| Adolphus B. Baker | Chair | |||
| Melanie Boulden | Member | Member | Member | |
| Max P. Bowman | Member | |||
| Haley R. Fisackerly | Member | Member | Member | |
| Michael J. Highfield | Member | Member | Member | |
| Letitia C. Hughes | Chair | Member | Member | |
| Sherman L. Miller | Member | |||
| Steve W. Sanders | Member | Member | Chair | |
| Dudley D. Wooley | Member | Member | Member | |
| Camille S. Young | Member | Chair | Member |
Audit Committee: The Audit Committee is composed of seven directors, each whom is independent in accordance with applicable Nasdaq listing standards and SEC rules, including the enhanced criteria with respect to audit committee members. The Audit Committee meets with management, internal auditors, and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to oversee the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, oversees and retains the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, evaluates and oversees an internal auditor for the Company, reviews annual audited financial statements and recommends whether such statements should be included in the Company’s annual reports on Form 10-K, reviews quarterly financial statements and reports on Form 10-Q, and oversees certain other financial matters. The Audit Committee discusses with the Company’s Director of Information Technology ongoing processes to improve and update the Company’s cybersecurity protocols, new cybersecurity threats, results of internal assessments and any significant cybersecurity incidents. The Audit Committee also reviews the Company’s systems to monitor and enforce compliance with the Company’s Code of Ethics and Business Conduct and reviews and oversees on an ongoing basis all “related-party transactions” required to be disclosed pursuant to SEC regulations. Upon recommendation of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Board has determined that each of Ms. Hughes and Messrs. Fisackerly, Highfield and Sanders qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined by the rules of the SEC. The Audit Committee held four meetings in fiscal year 2026.
Compensation Committee: The Compensation Committee is composed of seven directors, each of whom is independent in accordance with applicable Nasdaq listing standards and SEC rules. The Compensation Committee discharges the responsibilities of the Board relating to compensation of the Company’s executive officers. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves annually the compensation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers of the Company and reviews and approves any employment, severance, change in control or similar agreement with an executive officer. The Compensation Committee administers the Company’s Amended and Restated 2012 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended. The Compensation Committee is also responsible for reviewing periodically the form and amount of non-employee director compensation and recommending any proposed changes to the Board. For more information on the Compensation Committee’s processes and procedures, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” below. The Compensation Committee held two regularly scheduled quarterly meetings and took action by written consent five times in fiscal year 2026.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee: The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is composed of seven directors, each of whom is independent in accordance with applicable Nasdaq listing standards. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee discharges the Board’s responsibilities related to the Company’s director nominations process and procedures and develops and maintains the Company’s corporate governance policies, practices and procedures. For additional information about the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s process for identifying and evaluating nominees for director, see “Director Nomination Process and Consideration of Director Nominees,” below. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held two regularly scheduled meetings and took action by written consent twice in fiscal year 2026.
Executive Committee: The Executive Committee may exercise all of the powers of the full Board, except for certain major actions, such as the adoption of an agreement of merger or consolidation, the recommendation to stockholders of the disposition of substantially all of the Company’s assets or a dissolution of the Company, and the declaration of a dividend or authorization of an issuance of stock. It may not authorize single capital expenditure projects in excess of $10 million. The Executive Committee did not hold any formal meetings in fiscal year 2026, but worked closely together and took action by written consent four times.
Director Nomination Process and Consideration of Director Nominees
At least annually, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviews the composition and size of the Board. In recommending director nominees to the Board, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers any specific criteria the Board may request from time to time and such other factors as it deems appropriate. These factors may include any special training or skill, experience with businesses and other organizations of comparable size and type, experience or knowledge with businesses that are particularly relevant to the Company’s current or future business plans, financial expertise, the interplay of the candidate’s experience with the experience of the other directors, sufficient time to devote to the responsibilities of a director, freedom from conflicts of interest or legal issues, Board and committee composition requirements of the SEC and Nasdaq and the extent to which, in the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s opinion, the candidate would be a desirable addition to the Board, including how the candidate’s qualities and attributes would complement the other directors’ backgrounds. Additional factors that may be taken into consideration include, but are not limited to, advanced studies and certifications, industry experience, and areas of corporate experience. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes that the different backgrounds of the directors of the Board contribute to the overall insight necessary to evaluate matters coming before the Board.
Each candidate brought to the attention of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, regardless of who recommended such candidate, will be considered on the basis of the criteria set forth above.
As part of its role in the director nominations process, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers potential director nominees proposed by committee members, other members of the Board, the Company’s advisors, management or our stockholders. Any stockholder desiring to submit a director candidate for consideration should submit the candidate’s name, address and detailed background information to the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s address shown above under “General Matters—Householding.” The Secretary will forward such information to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for its consideration.
During fiscal year 2026, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee continued its director search process to identify and recruit qualified candidates to serve as directors of the Company, seeking suggestions from directors, management and the Company’s advisors. As previously disclosed, James E. Poole, a former Class III director, passed away in February 2026. Following Mr. Poole’s passing, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee recommended Mr. Wooley to the Board as a director candidate to succeed Mr. Poole. Based on Mr. Wooley’s experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, as described above under “Directors and Director Nominees,” and the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Board approved, the appointment of Mr. Wooley to the Board as a Class III director in March 2026. As part of its ongoing director search process, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also identified Messrs. Fisackerly and Highfield as director candidates. Based on Messrs. Fisackerly’s and Highfield’s experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, as described above under “Directors and Director Nominees,” in June 2026, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee recommended to the Board, and the Board approved, the appointment of Mr. Fisackerly to the Board as a Class II director and Mr. Highfield as a Class III director.
Skills and Experience
The following table notes the breadth and variety of business experience that each of the directors and Director Nominees brings to the Company and which enable the Board to provide insightful leadership to the Company We believe that our directors have suitable and diverse skill sets that align with our industry and business strategy. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviews these skill areas periodically to help ensure they represent the current and anticipated future needs of our business.
| CAL-MAINE FOODS BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHARACTERISTICS | ||||||||||
| BAKER | BOULDEN | BOWMAN | FISACKERLY | HIGHFIELD | HUGHES | MILLER | SANDERS | WOOLEY | YOUNG | |
| SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE | ||||||||||
| Audit & risk management | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Financial reporting | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Governance & ethics oversight | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Human capital management | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Industry experience | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Information & cyber security | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||||
| Legal compliance & regulatory relations | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Mergers & acquisitions | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Product quality & innovation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
| Strategy & planning | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Supply chain & procurement | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Sustainability governance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
Stockholder Communications
Stockholders may send communications to the Board or individual directors by directing them to the Secretary in writing at the address set forth above under “General Matters—Householding” or by telephone at (601) 948-6813. The Secretary will forward to the Board or individual director, as applicable, any such communications he receives which, in his reasonable judgment, he deems not to be spurious and to be sent in good faith.
Strategy Oversight
The Board is responsible for oversight of strategic planning of the Company. The Board plays an integral role in development of Company strategy and coordination with management of the execution of that strategy. The Board also identifies and oversees the management of the Company’s long-term goals.
Risk Oversight
The Board takes its oversight role in the Company’s risk management very seriously. The Board does not have a standing risk management committee, but rather administers this oversight function directly through the Board as a whole, as well as through various standing Board committees that address risks inherent in their respective areas of oversight.
The Chief Executive Officer and other members of senior management are primarily responsible for managing the day-to-day risks of the Company’s business and are best equipped to assess and manage those risks. The Audit Committee also plays a prominent role in assessing and addressing risks faced by the Company with respect to financial and accounting controls, internal audit functions, pending or threatened legal matters, cybersecurity, insurance coverage and the Company’s “whistleblower” hotline policy, among other matters. The Board and the Audit Committee receive reports on the Company’s exposure to risk and its risk management practices from members of senior management and legal counsel, including reports on the Company’s information technology standards and safeguards, financial and accounting controls and security measures, environmental compliance, bio-security and animal health, food safety, human resources, litigation and other legal matters, grain purchasing strategies, and customer concentration and product mix, among other things. For additional information about the Company’s processes for managing risks from cybersecurity threats and the Board’s and Audit Committee’s oversight of such risks, see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2026, Part I. Item 1C. Cybersecurity. The Board regularly receives updates about and reassesses the management of the Company’s risks throughout the year. The Board and the Audit Committee also review the Company’s risk disclosures in its draft periodic reports before they are filed and have the opportunity to question management and outside advisers about the risks presented. In addition, the Compensation Committee assesses whether the Company’s incentive compensation arrangements encourage unnecessary or excessive risk-taking and evaluate compensation policies and practices that could mitigate any such risk.
The Board’s role in risk oversight of the Company is consistent with the Company’s leadership structure, with the Chief Executive Officer and other members of senior management having responsibility for assessing and managing the Company’s risk exposure on a day-to-day basis, and the Board and its committees providing oversight in connection with those efforts.
The Board believes that its current leadership structure is conducive to and appropriate for its risk oversight function. If in the future the Board believes that a change in its leadership structure is required to, or potentially could, improve the Board’s risk oversight function, it may make any change it deems appropriate.
Sustainability
Our Board oversees our sustainability efforts, including topics that we believe are of interest to our stakeholders. You can read more about our sustainability efforts and standards in our most recent Impact Report, available in the “Investor Relations – Sustainability” section of our website at www.calmainefoods.com. Information contained on our website is not a part of this proxy statement.
Non-Employee Director Stock Ownership Guidelines
The Board has adopted stock ownership guidelines applicable to the Company’s non-employee directors. Under the guidelines, each non-employee director is encouraged to maintain ownership of the Company’s common stock valued at two times his or her annual retainer, which is currently $45,000, except for Ms. Hughes, the Board’s lead independent director, whose annual retainer is $60,000. Under the stock ownership guidelines, new non-employee directors are expected to comply with the stock ownership target within five years of appointment. All of our non-employee directors currently exceed their target ownership level or are otherwise in compliance with the guidelines. For discussion of the stock ownership guidelines applicable to our executive officers, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—General Matters Regarding Executive Compensation—Executive Officer Stock Ownership Guidelines” below.
Board Independence
Upon recommendation of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Board determined that, under Nasdaq listing standards, the following directors are independent: Ms. Boulden, Mr. Fisackerly, Mr. Highfield, Ms. Hughes, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Wooley and Ms. Young. As executive officers of the Company, Messrs. Baker, Bowman and Miller do not qualify as independent under Nasdaq listing standards.
A majority of the directors on our Board are independent in accordance with applicable Nasdaq listing standards. Additionally, our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are each comprised solely of independent directors.
Code of Ethics and Business Conduct
We have adopted a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our chief executive officer and principal financial and accounting officers. Our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct is posted on the “Investor Relations—Corporate Governance” page of our website at www.calmainefoods.com.
We have a written insider trading policy that applies to all “Insiders” of the Company, including officers of the Company, all members of the Board and all employees of, and consultants and contractors to, the Company and its subsidiaries, along with members of their immediate families, members of their households, and their controlled entities. We believe our insider trading policy, which includes additional restrictions and procedures applicable to our directors and executive officers, is reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules, regulations and listing standards applicable to the Company. Additionally, the policy confirms that the Company will not engage in transactions in its securities in violation of applicable securities laws. A copy of our insider trading policy was filed as Exhibit 19.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 30, 2026.
Board Leadership Structure
The roles of our Board Chair and Chief Executive Officer are not currently held by the same person. Mr. Miller serves as our Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Baker, who previously served as our Chief Executive Officer and is currently an executive officer of the Company, currently serves as Board Chair. Our bylaws require that when our Board Chair does not qualify as independent in accordance with applicable Nasdaq listing rules, the then-serving independent directors of the Board shall appoint a lead independent director. Letitia C. Hughes currently serves as lead independent director.
The lead independent director presides at all executive sessions of the Board, serves as a liaison to the Chief Executive Officer and other directors not present at executive sessions of the Board regarding topics discussed in executive session or other matters as may be raised from time to time by one or more independent directors, works with the Board Chair and other directors to determine agenda items for Board meetings, has the power to call meetings of the independent directors, and has such other responsibilities, and performs such duties, as may from time to time be assigned to her by the Board. For additional information regarding the lead independent director role, see Section 2.6 of our bylaws.
The Board recognizes that the leadership structure and the decision to combine or separate the roles of the Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair are prompted by the Company’s needs at any point in time. The Company’s leadership structure has varied over time and has included combining and separating these roles. As a result, the Board has not established a firm policy requiring combination or separation of these leadership roles and the Company’s governing documents do not mandate that the roles be combined or separate. This provides the Board with flexibility to establish the most appropriate structure for the Company at any given time. However, the Board has determined that the Company benefits from Mr. Miller serving as Chief Executive Officer while Mr. Baker continues to serve as Board Chair. Mr. Miller has a great understanding of the Company through his operational experience and the Board recognizes the value of his executive leadership, expertise and strategic vision to the Company. Mr. Baker is well suited to lead the Board as Board Chair because he has extensive knowledge of the Company’s operations, strategy, stakeholders and the major issues facing the Company. In addition, the Board recognizes the importance of having a strong independent board leadership structure to facilitate the effective performance of the Board in its role of providing oversight of management. Accordingly, because Mr. Baker is not an independent director, the Board has established the role of lead independent director, as described above.
Related-Party Transactions
The Audit Committee’s charter allocates responsibility to the Audit Committee to review and oversee on an ongoing basis all “related-party transactions,” meaning those required to be disclosed pursuant to the SEC’s Regulation S-K Item 404, which are generally transactions in which the Company is a participant, the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and any “related party” has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. In general, “related parties” include our directors, executive officers, beneficial owners of more than 5% of our common stock, and their immediate family members.
In addition, the Audit Committee’s charter allocates responsibility to the Audit Committee to review the Company’s Code of Ethics and Business Conduct and the Company’s systems to monitor compliance with and enforce the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct. Our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct prohibits directors, officers and employees of the Company from engaging in transactions which may create or appear to create a conflict of interest without disclosing all relevant facts and circumstances to, and obtaining the prior written approval of, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel. The Company’s General Counsel reports at least annually to the Audit Committee concerning any such disclosures.
In reviewing such transactions, the Audit Committee, Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel consider, among other factors:
| • | the nature of the transaction and the costs to be incurred by the Company or payments to the Company, |
| • | the benefits associated with the proposed transaction and whether alternative goods or services are available from unrelated parties, |
| • | the advantages the Company would gain by engaging in the transaction, |
| • | whether the terms of the transaction are fair to the Company and arms-length in nature, |
| • | the materiality of the transaction to the Company and to the related party, and |
| • | management’s determination, and as applicable the Audit Committee’s determination, that the transaction is in the best interests of the Company. |
No related party transactions reportable under Item 404 of Regulation S-K have taken place since the beginning of our last fiscal year, and none are currently proposed.
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our officers and directors, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership concerning their shares of our common stock with the SEC and to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. We are required to disclose delinquent filings of reports by such persons.
Based solely upon a review of Forms 3, Forms 4, and Forms 5 furnished to us pursuant to Rule 16a-3 under the Exchange Act, we believe that all such forms required to be filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act during fiscal 2026 were timely filed by the officers, directors, and security holders required to file such forms, except that Keira L. Lombardo, our Chief Strategy Officer, filed one late Form 4 on August 20, 2025 with respect to the issuance of the Company’s restricted common stock that occurred on August 11, 2025; and Melanie Boulden, an independent director, filed one late Form 4 on August 14, 2025 with respect to the issuance of the Company’s restricted common stock that occurred on August 11, 2025.
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
This compensation discussion and analysis describes and analyzes our executive compensation philosophy and program in the context of the compensation paid during the last fiscal year to our named executive officers. Our named executive officers for fiscal year 2026 are listed below:
| • | Adolphus B. Baker, Board Chair; |
| • | Sherman L. Miller, President and Chief Executive Officer; |
| • | Max P. Bowman, Vice President – Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Secretary; |
| • | Robert L. Holladay, Jr., Vice President – General Counsel; and |
| • | Michael T. Walters, Vice President – Operations and Chief Operating Officer. |
Executive Summary
Recent Company Performance
The Company reported net sales of $2.9 billion for fiscal 2026, compared with $4.3 billion for fiscal 2025. Additionally, net income attributable to the Company for fiscal 2026 was $316.7 million, or $6.63 per diluted share, compared to $1.2 billion, or $24.95 per diluted share for fiscal 2025. Despite the challenging market dynamics, the Company accelerated its diversification strategy by expanding its prepared foods segments.
During fiscal 2026, the Company acquired Echo Lake Foods, LLC to significantly expand its prepared foods segment. This expansion of our prepared foods business, in addition to the expansion of our specialty shell egg operations, resulted in prepared foods and specialty shell eggs together comprising 44.4% of our total net sales for fiscal 2026. Despite the cyclical economic pressures, the Company maintains a resilient balance sheet and will continue to invest in its operations, with a $54 million investment announced to expand its prepared foods production.
We believe the Company demonstrated its ability to adapt to varying economic conditions over recent fiscal years and believes it is positioned to be successful in the coming years.
Compensation Best Practices
The Compensation Committee annually reviews and periodically modifies our executive compensation program to retain and attract top executive talent to the Company and ensure that our program is both aligned with the interests of our stockholders and meets evolving governance standards. The following highlights some of the compensation and governance best practices that are part of our program:
| ● | Performance-Based Long-Term Incentive Awards—Beginning in fiscal year 2026, a portion of our long-term equity compensation program includes performance awards that reward financial performance and shareholder returns. |
| ● | Double Trigger Severance Payments—Our executive Severance and Change in Control Agreements do not provide for single trigger cash payments upon a change in control; our executives are entitled to severance only upon certain circumstances as the result of a termination of employment, whether before or after a change in control. |
| ● | No Tax “Gross-Ups”—We do not provide any tax “gross-up” payments in connection with compensation or other benefits provided by the Company. |
| ● | Clawback Policy—Incentive-based compensation for our named executive officers is subject to a Nasdaq-compliant compensation recoupment policy that requires the Committee to seek recovery of covered incentive-based compensation if there is a required restatement of the Company’s financial statements. |
| ● | Independent Compensation Consultant—The Committee periodically engages an independent compensation consultant to prepare surveys of executive officer and director compensation based on a peer group comprised of publicly traded companies. |
| ● | Risk Review—The Compensation Committee conducts a regular risk review of the Company’s executive compensation program, policies and practices. |
| ● | Anti-Hedging and Limited Pledging Policies—The Company prohibits its executives, directors and employees from hedging Company securities and places prudent limits on their ability to pledge Company securities. |
| ● | Stock Ownership Requirements—Our executive officers are required to maintain certain levels of ownership of Company securities. |
Compensation Philosophy and Process
We believe we are one of only two publicly held companies in the United States whose primary business is the commercial production, processing and sale of shell eggs, as prepared foods accounted for only 8.4% of our consolidated net sales in fiscal 2026. Accordingly, there is little public information available regarding the compensation paid by our competitors. It is our intent to compensate our employees at a level that will appropriately reward them for their performance, minimize turnover, and enable us to attract sufficient talent as our business expands.
Pursuant to its charter, the Compensation Committee, which is composed solely of independent directors, must review and approve annually the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and all other executive officers and review and approve any employment, severance, change in control or similar agreement with an executive officer.
Compensation Practices and Risks
We do not believe any risks arise from the Company’s compensation policies and practices that are likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Elements of Compensation
During fiscal 2026, our executive compensation program had the following primary components: base salary, an annual cash bonus and equity compensation in the form of restricted share awards (“RSAs”) and performance share units (“PSUs”). Our named executive officers also received certain perquisites and certain of our named executive officers participate in our deferred compensation plan. The tables that follow give details as to the compensation of each of our named executive officers for fiscal year 2026.
Base Salary
We believe that base salaries, which provide fixed compensation, should meet the objective of attracting and retaining the executive officers needed to manage our business successfully. Base salary adjustments, if any, are typically approved in December of each year and become effective January 1st of the following calendar year. After consideration of the review of peer company compensation and survey data prepared in 2025 by Mercer (US) Inc. (“Mercer”), a compensation consulting firm engaged by our Compensation Committee, which review indicated that the base salaries of our executive officers lagged behind the 25th percentile of our peer group, the Compensation Committee approved base salary increases effective January 1, 2026 as follows: Mr. Baker – no increase, Mr. Miller – 60%, Mr. Bowman – 36%, Mr. Walters - 62% and Mr. Holladay – 35%. Following these increases, the base salaries of our named executive officers were positioned between slightly below the 25th percentile and the midpoint of the second quartile of our peer group based on Mercer’s most recent peer company compensation review. See “Benchmarking of Compensation” below for information regarding recent updates to the Mercer report.
Annual Cash Bonus
The annual bonus program for our named executive officers is a variable, at-risk component of compensation designed to reward these officers for maximizing annual Company performance. The Executive Committee recommends executive bonuses, and the Compensation Committee reviews these recommendations and makes the final determination as to bonus awards. The Company’s profitability has historically been the most significant item in determining bonus amounts for the named executive officers, but the Compensation Committee also considers each executive’s workload and job performance in determining bonuses.
For fiscal 2026, the Compensation Committee determined that each named executive officer would have a target bonus equal to 25% (for Mr. Baker) or 50% (for all other named executive officers) of the sum of the officer’s base salary plus such officer’s prior year bonus. Similar to past years, if we earn a minimum profit, on a pre-tax basis, of five cents per dozen eggs produced, the executive could earn the full portion of his bonus attributable to our profitability (50% of the total), subject to adjustment at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. If our profit is less than five cents per dozen eggs produced, the executive’s bonus attributable to our profitability would be reduced by a corresponding percentage, again subject to adjustment at the discretion of our Compensation Committee. All of our executives performed well and met expectations during fiscal 2026. Given our earnings, profitability and operational performance in fiscal year 2026, the Compensation Committee approved payout of bonuses equal to 100% of each named executive officer’s target bonus for fiscal 2026.
Equity Compensation
The Company believes it is essential to provide our named executive officers with a long-term equity component of compensation in order to better align their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders. For fiscal 2026, the long-term equity component of our named executive officers’ compensation was delivered in the form of RSAs and PSUs granted under our Amended and Restated 2012 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2012 Plan”).
As noted above, in April 2025, the Compensation Committee implemented a new performance-based component of our long-term equity program. Effective June 1, 2025, each of our named executive officers received an award of PSUs, each representing the right to receive one share of our common stock, provided the applicable service and performance conditions are met. Specifically, the terms of the PSUs provide that they will pay out after a three-year performance period contingent on (a) the executive’s continued service through the performance period, except as otherwise provided in the participant’s award agreement, and (b) the Company’s achievement of specific performance goals tied to the following two equally weighted measures: the Company’s cumulative adjusted EBITDA and relative total stockholder return compared to a peer group. Depending on the level of achievement of these two measures over the performance period, the PSUs will pay out between 0% and 150% of the target award
On December 9, 2025, the Compensation Committee authorized grants of RSAs to a broad base of employees of the Company, including the named executive officers, which grants were effective January 12, 2026. The RSAs vest fully on the third anniversary of the date of grant, January 12, 2029. The structure of the PSUs and RSAs and the level of PSUs and RSAs awarded to each named executive officer were based in large part on the Compensation Committee’s review and evaluation of Mercer’s 2025 peer company compensation review, comparisons to the Company’s peer group, and the Company’s overall compensation strategy and objectives. See the “Benchmarking of Compensation” and “Compensation Consultants” sections below.
While the Compensation Committee has not developed formal policies concerning the timing of grants and other matters,
Deferred Compensation Arrangements
The Company maintains an unfunded and unsecured nonqualified deferred compensation plan (the “DC Plan”), in which all of our officers and certain other key members of management are eligible to participate, if selected by the Compensation Committee. The DC Plan allows each eligible participant to voluntarily defer a portion of his or her base salary and all or part of his or her annual bonus and provides for discretionary long-term incentive contributions that may be approved by the Compensation Committee. Under the DC Plan, each participant’s account under the DC Plan is credited or debited with investment gains or losses equal to certain hypothetical investments offered by the plan administrator and selected by the participant. Currently, all of our named executive officers other than Mr. Baker, who previously participated, participate in the DC Plan. For fiscal year 2026, the Company contribution for Messrs. Miller, Bowman, Holladay and Walters were approximately 18% of each officer’s base salary. Each participant is fully vested at all times in the participant’s elective deferrals. Unless otherwise determined by the plan administrator, Company contributions to each participant’s account become one hundred percent (100%) vested on December 31st of the fifth (5th) plan year following the year such contribution is credited to the plan, unless accelerated upon attainment of age sixty (60) with five years of service or a change of control of the Company. Upon retirement or separation from service, participants may elect to receive their distribution in a lump sum or in installments according to the election of the participant. The Compensation Committee determines which contributions, if any, will be made during December of each year. The contributions made for our named executive officers under the DC Plan are reflected in the “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” table in the “Compensation Tables” section below.
Effective March 1, 2023, the Company adopted a non-qualified supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”) and a split dollar life insurance plan (“Split Dollar Plan”) designed to provide deferred compensation and a pre-retirement death benefit for a select group of management or highly compensated employees of the Company. Currently, Messrs. Miller, Bowman, and Holladay participate in these plans. Provided the vesting conditions are met, participants in the SERP are eligible to receive an aggregate retirement benefit of $500,000, which is paid in annual installments of $50,000 for 10 years. A participant becomes vested in the retirement benefit over five years of plan participation at 20% per year. If a participant becomes disabled, attains the retirement age of 65, or the Company experiences a change in control, vesting will be accelerated to 100%. If a participant dies while employed, he or she will not receive any benefits under the SERP, but their beneficiaries will instead be entitled to the life insurance benefit provided under the Split Dollar Plan, which is $500,000.
Employee Benefits and Perquisites
While we do not maintain a pension plan, we do maintain the Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. KSOP (“KSOP”), which is a combination 401(k) and employee stock ownership plan. We currently contribute an amount not less than 3% of each participant’s base salary and bonus to the KSOP each year, subject to statutory limitations. All full-time employees 18 years of age or older with at least six months of service, including our named executive officers, are members of the KSOP. We also sponsor an elective 401(k) component within the KSOP, but we make no contributions directly to the 401(k) component on behalf of the participants. Each of our named executive officers participates in an enhanced health plan pursuant to which we reimburse the participating officer for eligible health expenses not covered by our primary health plan, up to $10,000 per calendar year. In addition, we have a plan under which officers who meet minimum tenure qualifications will be provided health coverage after their retirement. The coverage we provide is secondary to their Medicare coverage.
Each named executive officer, other than Mr. Holladay, is provided one automobile for which we pay the operating and maintenance costs. Mr. Holladay receives an auto allowance. We also pay club dues on behalf of certain of our named executive officers, as determined by the Board, and provide a housing allowance to Mr. Miller.
Certain officers, as determined by the Compensation Committee, are provided individual life insurance policies, the premiums of which are paid by the Company. In addition, Mr. Baker and the Company are parties to a split-dollar life insurance arrangement. See the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table in the “Compensation Tables” section below for more detail on these benefits.
General Matters Regarding Executive Compensation
Employment Agreements and Severance and Change in Control Arrangements
None of our named executive officers has an employment agreement with the Company. However, we provide certain named executive officers with contractual protections in the event of an involuntary separation either prior to or in connection with a change in control of the Company. Effective April 8, 2025, the Company entered into a Severance and Change in Control Agreement with each of Mr. Miller, Mr. Bowman, Mr. Walters, and Mr. Holladay. These agreements continue in effect through May 31, 2030, after which they will automatically renew for additional one-year periods unless prior written notice of non-renewal is provided by the Company. We believe that severance protections can play a valuable role in attracting and retaining key executive officers, and that these benefits also serve our stockholders’ interests by promoting a continuity of management in the context of an actual or threatened change in control transaction.
We also believe that the occurrence, or potential occurrence, of a change of control transaction will create uncertainty regarding the continued employment of our executive officers. This uncertainty results from the fact that many change in control transactions result in significant organizational changes, particularly at the senior executive level. In order to encourage these officers to remain employed with the Company during the important time when their prospects for continued employment following a transaction are often uncertain, we provide them with enhanced severance benefits if their employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by the executive with good reason in connection with a change in control. We do not provide excise tax gross-up protections under any change in control arrangements with our named executive officers.
Additionally, existing grants of RSAs vest on death, disability or change in control, and existing grants of PSUs vest at target on death or disability, and will be adjusted and vest following a change in control if the recipient’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by the recipient for good reason. In addition, the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion may determine that such grants will vest partially or in full upon retirement. Benefits under the SERP will also vest upon disability or a change in control. See the “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” section below.
Executive Officer Stock Ownership Guidelines
The Board has adopted stock ownership guidelines applicable to the Company’s executive officers. Under the guidelines, our chief executive officer is required to maintain ownership of Company stock valued at five times his or her base salary, our chief financial officer is required to maintain ownership of Company stock valued at three times his or her base salary and each of our other executive officers is required to maintain ownership of Company stock valued at two times his or her base salary. Executive officers are expected to comply with the stock ownership targets within five years of the date of their appointment. As of the record date, all named executive officers exceeded their target ownership levels or were otherwise in compliance with the guidelines.
Anti-Hedging Policy
Our insider trading policy, described above under Corporate Governance – Insider Trading Policy, prohibits Insiders from entering into any hedging arrangements with respect to our securities. The insider trading policy contains the following prohibition:
Hedging or monetization transactions can be accomplished through a number of possible mechanisms, including through the use of financial instruments such as prepaid variable forwards, equity swaps, publicly traded options, collars and exchange funds. Such transactions may permit a director, officer or employee to continue to own Company securities obtained through employee benefit plans or otherwise, but without the full risks and rewards of ownership. When that occurs, the director, officer or employee may no longer have the same objectives as the Company’s other stockholders. Therefore, Insiders are prohibited from engaging in any such transactions.
Margin Accounts and Pledging Transactions
Our insider trading policy provides that persons subject to the policy are prohibited from holding the Company’s securities in a margin account or otherwise pledging the Company’s securities as collateral for a loan, except for (1) those Company securities held in a margin account or otherwise pledged as collateral for a loan as of July 23, 2024 and (2) pledges of the Company’s securities as collateral for a loan (not including margin debt) when the person demonstrates to the Company the financial capacity to repay the loan without resorting to the pledged securities, with the prior approval of the Company.
Compensation Advisors
Benchmarking of Compensation
Since fiscal year 2013, the Compensation Committee has engaged Mercer to periodically provide compensation analysis and consulting services regarding the Company’s executive and director compensation. Part of this engagement involves benchmarking the Company’s executive pay against a peer group and published compensation surveys. Mercer most recently provided the Compensation Committee with an executive compensation analysis in 2025 (the “2025 Review”), which included a benchmarking analysis using a peer group (the “Peer group”) of 16 companies, all of which were publicly traded at the time of the reports. The Peer group was consistent with the group used in the prior Mercer review and was selected based on research by Mercer and input from management and consisted of the following companies primarily based on size as measured by revenues (with the Company falling in the 64th percentile in 2025) as well as other metrics such as market capitalization, EBITDA and total employee headcount. The 2025 Review was used by the Compensation Committee in making decisions with respect to executive pay for 2026 and for our PSU program.
Peer Group
| B&G Foods, Inc. | J&J Snack Foods Corp. | The Simply Good Foods Company |
| The Boston Beer Company, Inc. | Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. | Treehouse Foods, Inc. |
| Darling Ingredients, Inc. |
The Marzetti Company
(formerly Lancaster Colony Corporation)
|
Utz Brands, Inc. |
| Flowers Foods, Inc. | Post Holdings, Inc. | Vital Farms, Inc. |
| Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. | Primo Brands Corporation | |
| The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. | Seneca Foods Corporation |
Compensation Consultants
In addition to the services described above, the Chair of the Compensation Committee periodically engages Mercer on behalf of the Compensation Committee to review annual and long-term incentive plan designs for competitiveness and alignment with peer companies, and to update management and the Board on executive and director compensation trends. This review was most recently completed late in calendar 2025.
Mercer reports to the Chair of the Compensation Committee and consults with Mr. Baker, Board Chair and Mr. Bowman, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, in connection with the Executive Committee’s determinations and recommendations regarding other officers’ compensation.
The Compensation Committee periodically assesses the independence of Mercer and whether any of its work presents a conflict of interest. The Compensation Committee has assessed the independence of Mercer pursuant to applicable SEC and Nasdaq rules and concluded that the engagement did not raise any conflicts of interest.
Compensation Committee Report
The Compensation Committee reviewed and discussed the above Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management of the Company, and, based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee has recommended to the Board that the above Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s proxy statement on Schedule 14A for the Annual Meeting.
Camille S. Young, Chair
Melanie Boulden
Haley R. Fisackerly
Michael J. Highfield
Letitia C. Hughes
Steve W. Sanders
Dudley D. Wooley
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The members of the Compensation Committee during fiscal year 2026 were Ms. Boulden, Ms. Hughes, Mr. Poole (who passed away in February 2026), Mr. Sanders, Mr. Wooley (effective upon his appointment to the Board in March 2026) and Ms. Young. None of the Compensation Committee members were formerly an officer of the Company.
During fiscal year 2026, none of our executive officers served as a member of the compensation committee or as a director of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on our Compensation Committee or as one of our directors.
COMPENSATION TABLES
Summary Compensation Table
| Name and Principal Position |
Fiscal Year |
Salary ($)(1) |
Bonus ($) |
Stock Awards ($)(2) |
Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings |
All Other Compensation ($)(4) |
Total ($) |
| Adolphus B. Baker, | 2026 | 490,070 | 163,932 | 292,454 | -0- | 98,338 | 1,044,794 |
| Board Chair | 2025 | 489,250 | 332,956 | 107,991 | -0- | 96,122 | 1,026,319 |
| 2024 | 489,250 | 176,662 | 102,297 | -0- | 80,161 | 848,370 | |
| Sherman L. Miller, | 2026 | 627,538 | 800,000 | 502,523 | 36,135 | 143,025 | 2,109,221 |
| President/CEO | 2025 | 456,731 | 874,874 | 179,361 | 35,113 | 146,681 | 1,692,760 |
| 2024 | 408,438 | 374,874 | 158,470 | 36,436 | 129,757 | 1,107,975 | |
| Max P. Bowman, VP/ | 2026 | 402,885 | 399,672 | 319,589 | 12,863 | 110,828 | 1,245,837 |
| CFO/ Treasurer/ | 2025 | 335,577 | 648,687 | 137,243 | 170,540 | 109,471 | 1,401,518 |
| Secretary | 2024 | 318,160 | 298,687 | 125,140 | 159,425 | 102,982 | 1,004,394 |
| Robert L. Holladay, | 2026 | 361,538 | 357,500 | 286,675 | 33,743 | 103,979 | 1,143,435 |
| Jr., VP/General | 2025 | 300,577 | 580,000 | 122,397 | 32,956 | 92,974 | 1,128,904 |
| Counsel | 2024 | 283,313 | 265,000 | 111,303 | 34,481 | 85,961 | 780,058 |
| Michael T. Walters, | 2026 | 409,615 | 401,370 | 328,521 | -0- | 81,512 | 1,221,018 |
| VP/COO | 2025 | 296,154 | 555,481 | 116,128 | -0- | 152,512 | 1,120,275 |
|
2024 |
248,659 |
230,481 |
91,700 |
-0- |
133,943 |
704,783 |
| (1) | Salary for fiscal years 2024, 2025 and 2026 include 26 pay periods. |
| (2) | The amount listed represents the aggregate grant date fair value of RSAs and PSUs computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 – Compensation – Stock Compensation (“FASB ASC Topic 718”). |
| (3) | Amounts in this column for Messrs. Miller, Bowman and Holladay reflect the aggregate change in present value of the SERP benefit, which was implemented effective March 1, 2023. |
| (4) | The detail on amounts in this column is set forth in the “2026 All Other Compensation” table below. |
2026 ALL OTHER COMPENSATION TABLE(1)
| Name |
Auto ($) |
Deferred Compensation Contributions ($) |
Club Dues ($) |
Payment or |
Medical Reimbursement |
KSOP Contribution |
Housing Allowance ($) |
Total |
| Adolphus B. Baker | 28,600 | -0- | 8,916 | 48,592 | 1,880 | 10,350 | -0- | 98,338 |
| Sherman L. Miller | 7,150 | 90,000 | -0- | 1,200 | 3,929 | 14,158 | 26,588 | 143,025 |
| Max P. Bowman | 16,900 | 63,000 | 15,390 | 4,642 | -0- | 10,896 | -0- | 110,828 |
| Robert L. Holladay, Jr. | 21,798 | 56,700 | 3,650 | 2,059 | 8,026 | 11,746 | -0- | 103,979 |
| Michael T. Walters | -0- | 58,500 | 3,650 | 1,745 | 4,729 | 12,888 | -0- | 81,512 |
| (1) | See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” for more information on these elements of executive compensation. |
| (2) | For named executive officers other than Mr. Baker, the amount listed represents premiums paid on life insurance policies provided for such officer. Of Mr. Baker’s total amount listed, $23,210 represents premiums paid on non-split-dollar life insurance policies and $24,379 represents income imputed to Mr. Baker related to the split-dollar life insurance arrangements discussed in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Compensation—Employee Benefits and Perquisites” above. |
| (3) | As required by SEC rules, the amount reflected in this table reflects fiscal year reimbursements. |
| (4) | As required by SEC rules, the amount reflected in this table reflects fiscal year contributions. |
GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
| Name | Grant Date | Approval Date | Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards(1) | All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units (#)(2) |
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards ($)(3) |
||
| Threshold (#) |
Target (#) |
Maximum (#) | |||||
| Adolphus B. Baker | |||||||
| RSA | 01/12/2026 | 12/09/2025 | — | — | — | 1,310 | 96,757 |
| PSU | 06/01/2025 | 04/08/2025 | 1,020 | 2,040 | 3,060 | — | 195,697 |
| Sherman L. Miller | |||||||
| RSA | 01/12/2026 | 12/09/2025 | — | — | — | 4,097 | 302,604 |
| PSU | 06/01/2025 | 04/08/2025 | 1,042 | 2,084 | 3,126 | — | 199,918 |
| Max P. Bowman | |||||||
| RSA | 01/12/2026 | 12/09/2025 | — | — | — | 2,432 | 179,628 |
| PSU | 06/01/2025 | 04/08/2025 | 730 | 1,459 | 2,189 | — | 139,962 |
| Robert L. Holladay, Jr. | |||||||
| RSA | 01/12/2026 | 12/09/2025 | — | — | — | 2,176 | 160,719 |
| PSU | 06/01/2025 | 04/08/2025 | 657 | 1,313 | 1,970 | — | 125,956 |
| Michael T. Walters | |||||||
| RSA | 01/12/2026 | 12/09/2025 | — | — | — | 2,688 | 198,536 |
| PSU | 06/01/2025 | 04/08/2025 | 678 | 1,355 | 2,033 | — | 129,985 |
| (1) | Amounts shown in these columns represent grants of PSUs made in fiscal year 2026. Each PSU represents a contingent right to receive shares of our common stock, with the final number of shares to be issued based on the Company’s level of achievement of relative total stockholder return and cumulative adjusted EBITDA performance against targets for the fiscal 2026-2028 performance period. Our named executive officers can receive between 0% and 150% of the target PSU award based on achievement of applicable performance goals. See “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” for a description of the circumstances under which vesting of the PSUs may be is accelerated or adjusted. |
| (2) | Amounts shown in this column represent grants of RSAs made in fiscal year 2026, which vest fully on the third anniversary of the date of grant, generally conditioned upon the grantee remaining employed by the Company. See “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” for a description of the circumstances under which vesting of the RSAs may be accelerated. |
| (3) | The grant date fair value of the RSAs set forth in this column is based on the closing price of Company common stock on the grant date, which was $73.86, and the grant date fair value of the PSUs set forth in this column is based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on May 30, 2025, the last business day prior to the grant date, which was $95.93. |
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
| Stock Awards | |||||
| Name | Grant Date |
Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have
Not Vested
(#)(1)
|
Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)(2) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units
or Other Rights
That Have
Not Vested
(#)(3)
|
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market Value or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have
Not Vested ($)(2)(3) |
| Adolphus B. Baker | 1/12/2024 | 1,863 | 139,203 | — | — |
| 1/14/2025 | 982 | 73,375 | — | — | |
| 6/1/2025 | — | — | 3,060 | 228,643 | |
| 1/12/2026 | 1,310 | 97,883 | — | — | |
| Sherman L. Miller | 1/12/2024 | 2,886 | 215,642 | — | — |
| 1/14/2025 | 1,631 | 121,868 | — | — | |
| 6/1/2025 | — | — | 3,126 | 233,575 | |
| 1/12/2026 | 4,097 | 306,128 | — | — | |
| Max P. Bowman | 1/12/2024 | 2,279 | 170,287 | — | — |
| 1/14/2025 | 1,248 | 93,251 | — | — | |
| 6/1/2025 | — | — | 2,189 | 163,562 | |
| 1/12/2026 | 2,432 | 181,719 | — | — | |
| Robert L. Holladay, Jr. | 1/12/2024 | 2,027 | 151,457 | — | — |
| 1/14/2025 | 1,113 | 83,163 | — | — | |
| 6/1/2025 | — | — | 1,970 | 147,198 | |
| 1/12/2026 | 2,176 | 162,591 | — | — | |
| Michael T. Walters | 1/12/2024 | 1,670 | 124,782 | — | — |
| 1/14/2025 | 1,056 | 78,904 | — | — | |
| 6/1/2025 | — | — | 2,033 | 151,906 | |
| 1/12/2026 | 2,688 | 200,847 | — | — | |
| (1) | All of these RSA grants were made under the 2012 Plan and will vest fully on the third anniversary of the date of grant, conditioned upon the grantee remaining employed by the Company. See “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” for a description of the circumstances under which vesting of the RSAs may be is accelerated. |
| (2) | Market value of RSAs and payout value of PSUs assuming maximum performance are based on the closing price of Company common stock as of May 29, 2026, the last business day of the Company’s fiscal year 2026, which was $74.72. |
| (3) | Amounts shown in this column reflect outstanding PSUs with a fiscal 2026-2028 performance period, which will pay out in shares of our common stock following the end of the performance period based on the level of achievement of the performance conditions. The number of units reported in the table represents maximum performance. See “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” for a description of the circumstances under which vesting of the PSUs may be is accelerated or adjusted. |
STOCK VESTED
| Restricted Stock Awards | ||
| Name | Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#)(1) |
Value
Realized On Vesting ($)(2) |
| Adolphus B. Baker | 1,898 | 140,186 |
| Sherman L. Miller | 2,854 | 210,796 |
| Max P. Bowman | 2,254 | 166,480 |
| Robert L. Holladay, Jr. | 1,949 | 143,953 |
| Michael T. Walters | 1,136 | 83,905 |
| (1) | The number of shares acquired is reported on a gross basis. The Company withheld the necessary number of shares of common stock in order to satisfy withholding taxes due upon vesting of the RSAs, thus the named executive officers actually received a lower number of shares of the Company’s common stock than the numbers reported in this table. |
| (2) | The value realized on vesting of RSAs is based on the closing sale price on the date of vesting of the RSAs or, if there were no reported sales on such date, on the last preceding date on which any reported sale occurred. |
NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION
| Name |
Executive Contributions in Last FY ($) |
Registrant
Contributions
in Last FY ($)(1) |
Aggregate
Earnings in
Last FY
($)(2)
|
Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
($)
|
Aggregate
Balance at
Last FYE
($)(3)
|
| Adolphus B. Baker | -0- | -0- | 104,006 | -0- | 1,965,532 |
| Sherman L. Miller | -0- | 90,000 | 15,404 | -0- | 338,819 |
| Max P. Bowman | 52,692 | 63,000 | 32,216 | -0- | 679,251 |
| Robert L. Holladay, Jr. | -0- | 56,700 | 10,475 | -0- | 228,018 |
| Michael T. Walters | -0- | 58,500 | 84,212 | -0- | 354,970 |
| (1) | The entire amount reported in this column for each named executive officer is included within the amount reported as 2026 all other compensation in the Summary Compensation Table. |
| (2) | Beginning in fiscal 2022, contributions in the DC Plan are treated as if invested in one or more investment vehicles selected by the participant. The current deemed investments available under the DC Plan and the latest annual rate of return of each were as follows: |
| Fund Name | Annual Rate of Return |
| Equity Income (MSA/T Rowe Price) | 24.12% |
| Fidelity VIP Mid Cap | 35.03% |
| Focused Appreciation (MSA/Loomis Sayles Company) | -0.36% |
| Govt Money Market MSA/BlackRock Advisors LLC) | 3.63% |
| Index 500 Stock (MSA/BlackRock Advisors LLC) | 20.03% |
| International Equity (MSA/Dodge and Cox) | 25.63% |
| Long Term U.S. Government Bond (MSA/PIMCO) | 0.87% |
| Mid Cap Growth Stock (MSA/Wellington Management) | 4.31% |
| Rusell Investments Global Real Estate Securities | 12.98% |
| Russell Investments US Small Cap Equity | 34.75% |
| Small Cap Value (MSA/T Rowe Price) | 30.35% |
| US Small Cap Equity (Russell Invsts) | -4.93% |
| Fixed Income Fund – Northwestern Mutual General | 5.00% |
| (3) | Amounts reported in this column for each named executive officer include amounts previously reported in the Company’s Summary Compensation Table in previous years when earned if that officer’s compensation was required to be disclosed in a previous year. Amounts previously reported in such years include previously earned, but deferred, contributions. This total reflects the cumulative value of each named executive officer’s contributions and investment experience. |
For additional detail regarding these arrangements, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Elements of Compensation – Deferred Compensation Arrangements.”
Pension Benefits
Effective March 1, 2023, the Company adopted a non-qualified supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”) designed to provide deferred compensation for a select group of highly compensated employees of the Company. Currently, Messrs. Miller, Bowman, and Holladay participate in the SERP. Provided the vesting conditions are met, participants in the SERP are eligible to receive an aggregate retirement benefit of $500,000, which will be paid in annual installments of $50,000 for 10 years. A participant becomes vested in the retirement benefit over five years of plan participation at 20% per year. If a participant becomes disabled, attains the retirement age of 65, or the Company experiences a change in control, vesting will be accelerated to 100%. If a participant dies while employed, he or she will not receive any benefits under the SERP, but their beneficiaries will instead be entitled to the life insurance benefit provided under a split dollar life insurance plan.
PENSION BENEFITS
| Name | Plan Name |
Number of
Years of
Credited
Service
|
Present
Value of
Accumulated
Benefit
($)(1)
|
Payments During
Last Fiscal Year
($)
|
| Sherman L. Miller | SERP | 3.25 | 118,574 | -0- |
| Max P. Bowman | SERP | 3.25 | 384,578 | -0- |
| Robert L. Holladay, Jr. | SERP | 3.25 | 111,591 | -0- |
| (1) | These figures represent accumulated benefits as of May 30, 2026, based on several assumptions, including the assumption that the executive remains employed by us and begins receiving retirement benefits no earlier than the normal retirement age of 65, with such accumulated benefits being discounted from the normal retirement age to May 30, 2026 using an effective discount rate of 5.75%. |
POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL
Severance and Change in Control Agreements
As described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, in April 2025, the Company entered into severance and change in control agreements with each of Messrs. Miller, Bowman, Walters and Holladay. These agreements continue in effect through May 31, 2030, after which they will automatically renew for additional one-year periods unless prior written notice of non-renewal is provided by the Company in accordance with the terms of the agreement. Under each agreement, if the Company terminates the executive without cause or the executive terminates employment for good reason during the term of the agreement and prior to a change in control (as such terms are defined in the agreement), the executive will receive a lump-sum cash payment equal to the sum of (a) an amount in lieu of his annual bonus for the year of termination equal to the average of the annual bonuses awarded to the executive for the three fiscal years immediately preceding the termination date (the “Termination Bonus”), plus (b) two times for Mr. Miller and one and one-half times for each other executive the sum of (i) the executive’s base salary in effect at the time of termination plus (ii) the average of the annual bonuses awarded to the executive for the three fiscal years immediately preceding the termination date. In addition, the Company shall continue to provide insurance and welfare benefits to the Executive until the earlier of the third anniversary of the termination date or the date the executive accepts new employment (the “Benefit Continuation”).
Additionally, under the agreements, if the Company or its successor terminates the executive during the two-year period following a change in control, other than by reason of death, disability or cause, or the executive terminates employment for good reason, the executive will receive a lump-sum cash payment equal to the sum of (a) his Termination Bonus plus (b) three times for Mr. Miller and two times for each other executive the sum of (i) the executive’s base salary in effect at the termination date, or if higher, immediately preceding the change in control (with such base salary being determined without regard to any reduction that would provide the executive a basis to terminate employment for good reason), plus (ii) the average of the annual cash bonuses paid to the executive for the three full fiscal years immediately preceding the date of the change in control, or, if a higher amount results, the termination date. In addition, the Company shall provide the Benefit Continuation.
If any part of the payments or benefits received by the executive in connection with a termination following a change in control constitutes an excess parachute payment under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, the executive will receive the greater of (a) the amount of such payments and benefits reduced so that none of the amount constitutes an excess parachute payment, net of income taxes, or (b) the amount of such payments and benefits, net of income taxes and net of excise taxes under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Agreements also require the Executives to deliver a release in favor of the Company in order to receive the severance benefit.
Other Arrangements
The DC Plan, the SERP and the equity awards provide for accelerated vesting in connection with certain terminations of employment and a change in control. Specifically, the DC Plan provides that unvested Company contributions will also vest upon a change in control. Further, the SERP provides that if a participant becomes disabled, attains the retirement age of 65, or the Company experiences a change in control, the participant will vest in any unvested portion of his $500,000 SERP benefit. Finally, RSAs and PSUs will vest upon certain terminations of employment and in connection with a change in control as described in the footnotes to the table below.
The following table quantifies the potential payments to our named executive officers that would be due or accelerated under the contracts, arrangements, plans and scenarios discussed above, upon certain terminations of employment and a change in control of the Company as of the end of the Company’s fiscal year, based on the Company’s closing stock price of $74.72 on May 29, 2026, the last business day of such fiscal year. The table does not include amounts that may be payable under our KSOP or any other plans that are generally available to all salaried employees. Amounts below include certain estimates and assumptions that existed as of May 29, 2026. Actual amounts or benefits that could be payable to any named executive officer upon a termination of employment or a change in control cannot be known with certainty until the actual event occurs.
|
Name
|
RSAs
(1)($)
|
PSUs
(2)($)
|
SERP
(3)($)
|
DC Plan
(4)($)
|
Severance Payments (5)($) |
CIC Severance Payments
(6)($)
|
| Adolphus B. Baker | ||||||
| Retirement | 310,462 | 228,643 | - | - | - | - |
| Death/Disability | 310,462 | 152,429 | - | - | - | - |
| Change in Control | 310,462 | 228,643 | - | - | - | - |
| Sherman L. Miller | ||||||
| Termination without Cause or with Good Reason | - | - | - | - | 3,404,651 | - |
| Retirement | 643,638 | 233,575 | 500,000 | - | - | - |
| Death/Disability | 643,638 | 155,716 | - | - | - | - |
| Change in Control | 643,638 | 233,575 | 500,000 | 338,819 | - | - |
| Change in Control Related Termination without Cause or with Good Reason | - | 233,575 | - | - | - | 4,783,607 |
| Max P. Bowman | ||||||
| Termination without Cause or with Good Reason | - | - | - | - | 1,422,546 | - |
| Retirement | 445,256 | 163,562 | 500,000 | - | - | - |
| Death/Disability | 445,256 | 109,016 | - | - | - | - |
| Change in Control | 445,256 | 163,562 | 500,000 | 679,251 | - | - |
| Change in Control Related Termination without Cause or with Good Reason | - | 163,562 | - | - | - | 2,349,524 |
| Robert L. Holladay, Jr. | ||||||
| Termination without Cause or with Good Reason | - | - | - | - | 1,296,114 | - |
| Retirement | 397,212 | 147,198 | 500,000 | - | - | - |
| Death/Disability | 397,212 | 98,107 | - | - | - | - |
| Change in Control | 397,212 | 147,198 | 500,000 | 228,018 | - | - |
| Change in Control Related Termination without Cause or with Good Reason | - | 147,198 | - | - | - | 2,122,781 |
| Michael T. Walters | ||||||
| Termination without Cause or with Good Reason | - | - | - | - | 1,302,717 | - |
| Retirement | 404,534 | 151,906 | - | - | - | - |
| Death/Disability | 404,534 | 101,246 | - | - | - | - |
| Change in Control | 404,534 | 151,906 | - | 354,970 | - | - |
| Change in Control Related Termination without Cause or with Good Reason | - | 151,906 | - | - | - | 2,182,685 |
| (1) | Upon termination by the Company or the employee (other than termination due to a retirement, death or disability), the named executive officers’ RSA agreements provide for forfeiture of all unvested RSAs. Upon death or disability of a grantee, or a change in control of the Company, all RSAs will vest and all restrictions will lapse. Upon retirement of a grantee, the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion may provide that RSAs will vest partially or in full as of the effective date of the grantee’s termination due to retirement. The amounts set forth in the column assume the Compensation Committee has exercised discretionary authority to fully vest all such RSAs. |
| (2) | Upon termination by the Company or the employee (other than termination due to a retirement, death, or disability), the named executive officers’ PSU agreements provide for forfeiture of all unvested PSUs. Upon a grantee’s termination of employment due to death or disability during the applicable performance period, the PSUs (and any related accrued dividend equivalents) will vest in full and pay out at the target level. If a grantee’s employment is terminated by the grantee for good reason or by the Company without cause, or upon the grantee’s retirement if approved by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion, the PSUs (and any related accrued dividend equivalents) will not be forfeited nor accelerate, but will remain outstanding and vest following the end of the performance period, provided the applicable performance conditions are met. In the event of a change in control of the Company, the performance period for outstanding PSUs will end as of the last day of the most recently completed fiscal quarter and the number of shares that may be earned will be determined, and such shares (and any related accrued dividend equivalents) will vest on the earlier of the last day of the applicable performance period or the date the grantee is terminated without cause or terminates for good reason. The amounts set forth in the column assume the Compensation Committee has exercised discretionary authority to fully vest all PSUs upon retirement and reflects possible maximum pay out under all scenarios, except death and disability (which reflects possible pay out at the target level). |
| (3) | With regard to the SERP, unvested amounts will fully vest upon a retirement after age 65, a disability or a change of control. The amounts in the table reflect the full benefit of the SERP that would be payable to each applicable executive in connection with the noted event, 60% of which was fully vested as of May 30, 2026 for Mr. Miller and Mr. Holladay, and 100% vested for Mr. Bowman. |
| (4) | With regard to the DC-Plan, unvested amounts will fully vest upon a participant’s attainment of the age of 60 with five years of service or a change of control. The amounts in the table for a change of control reflect the full balance of each applicable executive’s DC-Plan account, some of which was fully vested as of May 30, 2026. As of May 30, 2026, Mr. Bowman and Mr. Walters were fully vested in the Company contributions in their DC-Plan accounts. Subsequent to May 30, 2026, Mr. Miller and Mr. Holladay became fully vested in the Company contributions in their DC-Plan accounts. |
| (5) | Under the severance and change in control agreements with certain named executive officers described above, the executive is entitled to receive a severance payment in connection with a termination by the Company without cause or a termination by the executive with good reason, as those terms are defined in the agreement, and the Benefit Continuation. The amounts in the table reflect the applicable severance payment that would be due upon a qualifying termination as of May 30, 2026 and an estimate of the Company’s cost for the Benefit Continuation. |
| (6) | Under the severance and change in control agreements with certain named executive officers described above, the executive is entitled to receive a severance payment in connection with a termination by the Company without cause or a termination by the executive with good reason, as those terms are defined in the agreement, during the two-year period following a change in control, and the Benefit Continuation. The amounts in the table reflect the applicable severance payment that would be due upon a qualifying termination as of May 30, 2026 and an estimate of the Company’s cost for the Benefit Continuation. |
PAY VERSUS PERFORMANCE
As required by Section 953(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the following information about the relationship between executive compensation actually paid and certain financial performance of the Company. Further information concerning the Company’s pay for performance philosophy and how the Company’s aligns executive compensation with the Company’s performance is described under “Compensation Discussion & Analysis” beginning on page 26.
On September 30, 2022, Adolphus B. Baker stepped down as the Company’s CEO and continues to serve as the Company’s Board Chair and as an executive officer of the Company. On September 30, 2022, Sherman L. Miller was named the CEO. The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation of our CEOs and other named executive officers for each of the fiscal years 2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, and 2022 and our financial performance for each such fiscal year:
| Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based On: | ||||||||||
| Year (1) | Summary Compensation Table Total for CEO - Adolphus B. Baker ($) | Summary Compensation Table Total for CEO - Sherman L. Miller ($)(2) | Compensation Actually Paid to CEO - Adolphus B. Baker ($)(2)(3) | Compensation Actually Paid to CEO - Sherman L. Miller ($)(2)(3) | Average Summary Compensation Table Total for NEOs ($) | Average Compensation Actually Paid to NEOs ($)(2)(3) | Total Shareholder Return ($)(4) | Peer Group Total Shareholder Return ($)(4) | Net Income ($) | Net Income per Dozen Produced ($) (5) |
| 2026 | ||||||||||
| 2025 | ||||||||||
| 2024 | ||||||||||
| 2023 | ||||||||||
| 2022 | | | ||||||||
| (1) | The CEO and named executive officers included in the above compensation columns reflect the following: |
| Year | CEO | NEOs |
| 2026 | Max P. Bowman, Adolphus B. Baker, Michael T. Walters, Rob L. Holladay, Jr. | |
| 2025 | Max P. Bowman, Adolphus B. Baker, Michael T. Walters, Rob L. Holladay, Jr. | |
| 2024 | Max P. Bowman, Adolphus B. Baker, Michael T. Walters, Rob L. Holladay, Jr. | |
| 2023 | | Max P. Bowman, Michael T. Walters, Charles J. Hardin, Rob L. Holladay, Jr. |
| 2022 | | Sherman L. Miller, Max P. Bowman, Charles J. Hardin, Rob L. Holladay, Jr. |
| (2) | Fair value or change in fair value, as applicable, of equity awards in the “Compensation Actually Paid” columns was determined by reference to closing price on applicable year-end dates or, in the case of vesting dates, the actual vesting price. For the portion of “Compensation Actually Paid” that is based on year-end stock prices, the following prices were used: for 2026 - $ |
| (3) | 2026 “Compensation Actually Paid” to the CEO and the average “Compensation Actually Paid” to the named executive officers reflect the following adjustments from Total Compensation reported in the Summary Compensation Table: |
| CEO ($) | Average of NEOs ($) | |
| Total Reported in 2026 Summary Compensation Table (SCT) | ||
| Less, Value of Stock & Option Awards Reported in SCT | ( | ( |
| Less, Change in Pension Value in SCT | ( | ( |
| Plus, Pension Service Cost and impact of Pension Plan Amendments | ||
| Plus, Year-End value of Awards Granted in Fiscal Year that are Unvested and Outstanding | ||
| Plus, Change in Fair Value of Prior Year awards that are Outstanding and Unvested | ( | ( |
| Plus, Change in Fair Value (from Prior Year-End) of Prior Year awards that Vested this year | ( | ( |
| Total Adjustments | ( | ( |
| “Compensation Actually Paid” in Fiscal Year 2026 | ||
| CEO ($) | Average of NEOs ($) | |
| Total Reported in 2025 Summary Compensation Table (SCT) | ||
| Less, Value of Stock & Option Awards Reported in SCT | ( | ( |
| Less, Change in Pension Value in SCT | ( | ( |
| Plus, Pension Service Cost and impact of Pension Plan Amendments | ||
| Plus, Year-End value of Awards Granted in Fiscal Year that are Unvested and Outstanding | ||
| Plus, Change in Fair Value of Prior Year awards that are Outstanding and Unvested | ||
| Plus, Change in Fair Value (from Prior Year-End) of Prior Year awards that Vested this year | ||
| Total Adjustments | ||
| “Compensation Actually Paid” in Fiscal Year 2025 | ||
| CEO ($) | Average of NEOs ($) | |
| Total Reported in 2024 Summary Compensation Table (SCT) | ||
| Less, Value of Stock & Option Awards Reported in SCT | ( | ( |
| Less, Change in Pension Value in SCT | ( | ( |
| Plus, Pension Service Cost and impact of Pension Plan Amendments | ||
| Plus, Year-End value of Awards Granted in Fiscal Year that are Unvested and Outstanding | ||
| Plus, Change in Fair Value of Prior Year awards that are Outstanding and Unvested | ||
| Plus, Change in Fair Value (from Prior Year-End) of Prior Year awards that Vested this year | ||
| Total Adjustments | ||
| “Compensation Actually Paid” in Fiscal Year 2024 | ||
| CEO - Dolph Baker ($) | CEO - Sherman Miller ($) | Average of NEOs ($) | |
| Total Reported in 2023 Summary Compensation Table (SCT) | |||
| Less, Value of Stock & Option Awards Reported in SCT | ( | ( | ( |
| Less, Change in Pension Value in SCT | ( | ( | |
| Plus, Pension Service Cost and impact of Pension Plan Amendments | |||
| Plus, Year-End value of Awards Granted in Fiscal Year that are Unvested and Outstanding | |||
| Plus, Change in Fair Value of Prior Year awards that are Outstanding and Unvested | ( | ( | ( |
| Plus, Change in Fair Value (from Prior Year-End) of Prior Year awards that Vested this year | ( | ( | ( |
| Total Adjustments | ( | ( | ( |
| “Compensation Actually Paid” in Fiscal Year 2023 | |||
| CEO ($) | Average of NEOs ($) | |
| Total Reported in 2022 Summary Compensation Table (SCT) | ||
| Less, Value of Stock & Option Awards Reported in SCT | ( | ( |
| Plus, Year-End value of Awards Granted in Fiscal Year that are Unvested and Outstanding | ||
| Plus, Change in Fair Value of Prior Year awards that are Outstanding and Unvested | ||
| Plus, Change in Fair Value (from Prior Year-End) of Prior Year awards that Vested this year | ||
| Total Adjustments | ||
| “Compensation Actually Paid” in Fiscal Year 2022 |
| (4) | Company and Peer Group Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) reflects the Company’s peer group (S&P Comp 1500 Food Products Industry Index) as reflected in our Annual Report on Form 10-K pursuant to Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K for the applicable fiscal year. Each year reflects what the cumulative value of $100 would be, including the reinvestment of dividends, if such amount were invested on May 28, 2021. |
| (5) |
Financial Performance Measures
As described in greater detail in “Compensation Discussion & Analysis,” the Company’s executive compensation program reflects a pay-for-performance philosophy. The metrics that the Company uses for our incentive awards are selected based on an objective of incentivizing our named executive officers to increase the value of our enterprise for our stockholders. The most important financial and non-financial performance measures used by the Company to link compensation actually paid to the Company’s named executive officers for the most recently completed fiscal year to the Company’s performance are as follows:
Pay versus Performance Descriptive Disclosure
As described in greater detail in “Compensation Discussion & Analysis,” the Company’s executive compensation program reflects a pay-for-performance philosophy. While the Company utilizes several performance measures to align executive compensation with Company performance, all of those Company measures are not presented in the Pay Versus Performance table above. We believe food quality and safety is an important measurement that provides a foundation for reliable and continued financial performance. Our financial performance measures prioritize operational efficiency and sustainable growth to maximize long-term shareholder value. We evaluate our ongoing business execution using Net Income per Dozen Produced and Segment Operating Income as primary operating metrics, while remaining aligned with delivering total shareholder return.
We believe the table above shows the strong link between compensation actually paid to our executives and our company’s performance, consistent with our compensation philosophy and as described in our Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 26. Specifically,
| ● | Our cumulative TSR during the past five years has increased each year except for 2026. Likewise, the CEO and other-NEO “compensation actually paid” has only increased when our TSR increased. Our cumulative TSR has exceeded our peer group’s cumulative TSR for each of the last five years. |
| ● | For the years reflected in the table, excluding 2024, our CEO and other-NEO “compensation actually paid” only increased when our Net Income and Net Income per Dozen Produced increased, demonstrating a strong correlation between pay and performance. However, Net Income and Net Income per Dozen Produced were lower in 2024 compared to 2023, which was a record year for us, while “compensation actually paid” for both the CEO and other-named executive officers increased. This was a result of the first full year for Mr. Miller as CEO and also adjustments made to compensation following the record year performance of the Company in 2023. |
| ● | The increases in CEO and other-NEO “compensation actually paid” generally correlates with the increase in TSR. Compensation actually paid increased each year our TSR increased, while it decreased in 2026 as TSR and Net Income per Dozen Produced was lower compared to 2025. |
PAY-RATIO DISCLOSURE
To determine the median employee compensation, we analyzed all of Cal-Maine Foods’ employees, excluding Cal- Maine Foods’ Chief Executive Officer, as of May 30, 2026. We annualized wages for employees that were not employed for the full year. We used year to date gross wages as the consistently applied compensation metric to determine the median employee. After identifying the median employee, we calculated annual total compensation for the median employee according to the methodology used to report the annual compensation of our named executive officers in the Summary Compensation Table on page 32.
The 2026 annual total compensation of our median employee other than Mr. Miller was $47,899. For fiscal year 2026, the total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Miller, was $2,109,221 as reported in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table on page 32. Based on the foregoing, our estimate of the ratio of the average annual total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer to the median of the annual total compensation of all other employees was approximately 50 to 1. Given the different methodologies that different public companies use to determine an estimate of their pay ratio, the estimated ratio reported above should not be used as a basis for comparison between companies.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
For fiscal year 2026, the Company’s non-employee directors each received an annual fee of $45,000 as compensation for their services as a director, except Ms. Hughes, who received an annual fee of $60,000 as the Company’s lead independent director. The annual fee is paid in quarterly installments following the end of each quarter and in advance of the next quarterly Board meeting. During fiscal 2026, each non-employee director received an additional special payment in February and May related to additional special meetings of the Board requiring increased director time and a bonus related to our record Company performance in fiscal 2026. During fiscal year 2026, each non-employee director received an annual equity award with a target grant date value of approximately $100,000. Specifically, on January 12, 2026, Mses. Boulden, Hughes and Young and Messrs. Poole and Sanders each received grants of 1,310 RSAs under the 2012 Plan, and on April 17, 2026, Mr. Wooley received a grant of 1,284 RSAs under the 2012 Plan in connection with his appointment to the Board. Such RSAs vest 100% on the third anniversary of the date of grant. Mercer also periodically reviews and benchmarks the Company’s director compensation program, and the most recent such review was completed in 2025. See “Compensation Discussion & Analysis – Compensation Advisors” for more information regarding Mercer. Employee directors receive no additional compensation for their services as directors of the Company, and the compensation of Messrs. Baker, Bowman and Miller is reflected in the Summary Compensation Table above.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE
| Name |
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) |
Stock Awards (1) |
Total
($) |
| Melanie Boulden | 33,750 | 197,620 | 231,370 |
| Letitia C. Hughes | 90,000 | 96,757 | 186,757 |
| James E. Poole (2) | 63,750 | 96,757 | 160,507 |
| Steve W. Sanders | 75,000 | 96,757 | 171,757 |
| Camille S. Young | 75,000 | 96,757 | 171,757 |
| Dudley D. Wooley | 11,250 | 99,202 | 110,452 |
| (1) | The aggregate grant date fair value of the RSAs set forth in this column is computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 and based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock as of annual grant date, which was $73.86. Ms. Boulden received 938 shares upon her appointment to the Board in August 2025, which were valued at $107.53 at the grant date and 1,310 shares in January 2026 as part of the Company’s annual grant, and Mr. Wooley received 1,284 shares in April, 2026, upon his appointment to the Board , which were valued at $77.26 at the grant date. At the end of fiscal year 2026, Meses. Hughes and Young and Mr. Sanders had 4,155 unvested RSAs, Ms. Boulden had 2,248 unvested RSAs and Mr. Wooley had 1,284 unvested RSAs. |
| (2) | As previously disclosed, Mr. Poole passed away in February 2026. Compensation in the table reflects compensation actually paid to Mr. Poole for his service as a director during fiscal year 2026 until February 2026. |
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee oversees the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the systems of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management the audited financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 30, 2026.
The Audit Committee also worked with Frost, PLLC, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. In addition, the Audit Committee has discussed with Frost, PLLC its independence from management and the Company and all matters required to be discussed pursuant to Public Company Accounting Oversight Board rules and has received the written disclosures and letter from Frost, PLLC required by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board rules and the SEC.
The Audit Committee discussed with our internal auditors and our independent registered public accounting firm the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The Audit Committee meets with the internal auditors and our independent registered public accounting firm, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of our internal controls, and the overall quality of our financial reporting.
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board (and the Board approved) that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 30, 2026, for filing with the SEC.
Letitia C. Hughes, Chair
Melanie Boulden
Haley R. Fisackerly
Michael J. Highfield
Steve W. Sanders
Dudley D. Wooley
Camille S. Young
FEES AND RELATED DISCLOSURES FOR ACCOUNTING SERVICES
The following table discloses the aggregate fees billed by Frost, PLLC for professional services rendered during fiscal 2026 and 2025:
| 2026 | 2025 | |||||||||||||||
| Fee | Amount | Percent | Amount | Percent | ||||||||||||
| Audit Fees | $ | 390,784 | 93 | % | $ | 324,840 | 88 | % | ||||||||
| Audit-Related Fees | 25,250 | 6 | % | 24,500 | 7 | % | ||||||||||
| Tax Fees | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| All Other Fees | 3,236 | 1 | % | 18,154 | 5 | % | ||||||||||
| Frost Total Fees | $ | 419,270 | $ | 367,494 | ||||||||||||
All audit and any material non-audit services provided by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm require pre-approval by the Audit Committee or its designee. 100% of the services performed by Frost, PLLC for the fiscal years 2026 and 2025 were pre-approved by the Audit Committee, and none of those services required use of the de minimis exception to pre-approval contained in the SEC’s rules.
Audit fees include fees associated with the annual audit of the Company’s financial statements and the review of the financial statements included in the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Audit-related fees principally include employee benefit plan audits for plan fiscal years ended December 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024.
PROPOSAL NO. 2: ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The Board is committed to excellence in governance and recognizes the interest our stockholders have in our executive compensation program. As part of that commitment and in accordance with Section 14A of the Exchange Act, our stockholders are being asked to approve an advisory resolution on the compensation of our named executive officers, as reported in this proxy statement. Consistent with our stockholders’ preference, last indicated at our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, we give our stockholders an opportunity to vote, on an advisory basis, to approve the compensation of our named executive officers every three years.
This proposal, commonly known as the “say-on-pay” proposal, is advisory, which means that the vote on executive compensation is not binding on the Company, the Board or the Compensation Committee. Nonetheless, the Board takes this vote and the opinions of our stockholders seriously and the Compensation Committee will evaluate the outcome of this vote in making future compensation decisions with respect to our named executive officers. The vote on this resolution is intended to address the Company’s overall compensation of our named executive officers and our compensation philosophy and practices, as described in this proxy statement.
We are asking our stockholders to indicate their support for the compensation of our named executive officers as described in this proxy statement by voting in favor of the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the stockholders of Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (the “Company”) approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in the Company’s proxy statement for our 2026 annual meeting of stockholders pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table and the other related tables and disclosures provided in this proxy statement.
The Board recommends a vote FOR this resolution because it believes that the policies and practices described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis are effective in achieving the Company’s goals of rewarding sustained financial and operating performance and leadership excellence, aligning the executives’ long-term interests with those of the stockholders and motivating the executives to remain with the Company for long and productive careers.
We urge stockholders to read the Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 26 of this proxy statement as well as the 2026 Summary Compensation Table and related compensation tables and narrative, appearing on pages 32 through 37, which provide detailed information on the Company’s compensation policies and practices and the compensation of our named executive officers.
Approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Company’s capital stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter. For more information on the voting requirements, see “General Matters—Matters to be Considered; Voting Requirements; Board Recommendations” above.
The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” approval of the advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers.
PROPOSAL NO. 3: RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee selected Frost, PLLC to serve as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for fiscal year 2027, and the Board recommends a vote FOR the ratification of such selection. There have been no controversies, disputes or differences of opinion with Frost, PLLC since it has been engaged by the Company.
Frost, PLLC has extensive experience in serving the poultry and egg industries, and, as a result, the Audit Committee believes Frost, PLLC is particularly well-suited to serve as independent registered public accounting firm for the Company. If the Company’s stockholders do not ratify the selection of Frost, PLLC, the Audit Committee will reconsider this selection although it may determine the independent registered public accounting firm should continue. Further, even if stockholders ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee may, in its discretion, appoint a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the fiscal year if it believes such appointment is in the best interests of the Company and the stockholders.
Representatives of Frost, PLLC are expected to attend the Annual Meeting and be available to respond to appropriate questions, and they may make a statement if they desire to do so.
Approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Company’s capital stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter. For more information on the voting requirements, see “General Matters—Matters to be Considered; Voting Requirements; Board Recommendations” above.
The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the ratification of the selection of Frost, PLLC as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2027.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Stockholder proposals for the 2027 annual meeting of stockholders that a stockholder wishes to have considered for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement must comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, and be received in writing at the Company’s principal executive offices no later than April 20, 2027. Stockholder proposals should be addressed to Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., 1052 Highland Colony Parkway, Suite 200, Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157, ATTN: Secretary.
Stockholders wishing to present a proposal at the 2027 annual meeting without having the proposal included in the Company’s proxy materials, or who wish to submit a nominee for election as a director at the 2027 annual meeting, must comply with Section 1.16 of the Company’s bylaws, including the notice provisions therein. To be timely, the notice must be received by the Company’s Secretary at the Company’s principal executive offices not later than the Close of Business (as defined in our bylaws) on July 4, 2027. Special notice provisions apply under the Company’s bylaws if the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or 60 days after the anniversary date. Failure to comply with our bylaw procedures and deadlines may preclude presentation of your proposal or nomination at our 2027 annual meeting.
In addition to satisfying the foregoing requirements under our bylaws, including the notice deadline set forth above, to comply with the universal proxy rules, stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company’s director nominees must also comply with the additional requirements of Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board is not aware of any other matters that may come before the Annual Meeting. However, if any other matters are properly brought before the meeting, the proxies named in the enclosed proxy will vote in accordance with their best judgment on such matters.
By order of the Board of Directors,
| |
|
| Max P. Bowman, | |
| Secretary |
Ridgeland, Mississippi
August 18, 2026
