Daktronics raises acting CFO pay to $1.2M
Daktronics boosted its acting CFO’s pay and reported strong support for directors, executive pay, and auditor ratification at the 2026 annual meeting.
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Daktronics Inc. (DAKT) reported that its Board increased Acting Chief Financial Officer Howard Atkins’ base salary to $1,200,000 per year, effective September 27, 2026, and approved a one-time RSU grant with a grant date fair value of $170,000.
The RSUs vest pro rata over three years while he remains employed, but will become fully vested when the Board appoints a permanent Chief Financial Officer. Daktronics also reported results of its 2026 Annual Meeting, where two directors were elected, executive compensation received advisory approval, and Deloitte & Touche LLP was ratified as independent auditor, with 93.2% of eligible shares represented.
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8-K Event Classification
3 items: 5.02, 5.07, 9.01
3 items
Item 5.02
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers
Governance
Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.
Item 5.07
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Governance
Results of a shareholder vote on proposals at an annual or special meeting.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, or exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Key Figures
Acting CFO base salary: $1,200,000 per year
RSU grant fair value: $170,000
Shares outstanding: 48,305,826 shares
+5 more
8 metrics
Acting CFO base salary
$1,200,000 per year
Approved by the Board, effective September 27, 2026
RSU grant fair value
$170,000
One-time grant to Acting CFO in recognition of continued service
Shares outstanding
48,305,826 shares
Common stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the 2026 Annual Meeting
Shares represented at meeting
44,996,443 shares
Shares represented in person or by proxy at the 2026 Annual Meeting, 93.2% of eligible shares
Say-on-pay votes for
35,223,706 shares
Votes in favor of advisory approval of named executive officer compensation
Auditor ratification votes for
44,023,266 shares
Votes in favor of ratifying Deloitte & Touche LLP for fiscal 2027
Director Bultena votes for
37,807,443 shares
Votes for election of Dr. Lance D. Bultena as director
Director Griffiths votes for
36,672,583 shares
Votes for election of Dr. José-Marie Griffiths as director
Key Terms
restricted stock units, advisory (non-binding), broker non-votes, independent registered public accounting firm, +1 more
5 terms
restricted stock units financial
"The Board also approved a one-time RSU grant to Mr. Atkins"
Restricted stock units are a type of company reward where employees are promised shares of stock, but they only fully own these shares after meeting certain conditions, like staying with the company for a set time. They matter because they can become valuable assets and are often used to motivate employees to help the company succeed.
advisory (non-binding) regulatory
"Advisory (non-binding) approval of the Company's compensation"
broker non-votes regulatory
"Number of Shares Voted For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes"
Broker non-votes occur when a brokerage firm is unable to vote on a shareholder’s behalf during a company election or decision because the shareholder has not given specific voting instructions, and the broker is not allowed or chooses not to vote on certain matters. They are important because they can affect the outcome of votes, especially when the results are close, by effectively reducing the total number of votes cast.
independent registered public accounting firm regulatory
"Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm"
An independent registered public accounting firm is an outside accounting company officially registered with the government regulator to examine and report on a public company's financial records and controls. Investors treat its reports like an impartial inspector’s certificate — they add credibility to financial statements, help spot errors or misleading claims, and reduce the risk that shareholders are relying on unchecked or biased numbers.
grant date fair value financial
"a one-time RSU grant to Mr. Atkins with a grant date fair value"
The grant date fair value is the estimated dollar worth of a stock-based award (such as stock options or restricted shares) at the exact moment it is given to an employee or contractor. Investors care because companies use that value to record compensation expenses and to show how much potential ownership and earnings dilution those awards could create—think of it as the price tag placed on a gift card when it is handed over so the company can report the cost now.
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
What compensation changes did Daktronics (DAKT) make for its Acting CFO?
Daktronics’ Board increased Acting Chief Financial Officer Howard Atkins’ base salary to $1,200,000 annually, effective September 27, 2026, and approved a one-time RSU grant with a grant date fair value of $170,000 in recognition of his continued service.
How will the new RSUs for Daktronics’ Acting CFO vest?
The RSUs granted to Acting CFO Howard Atkins will vest pro rata over three years, starting on the date in the award notice, as long as he remains continuously employed; they will fully vest on the date the Board appoints a permanent Chief Financial Officer.
Were Daktronics (DAKT) director nominees elected at the 2026 Annual Meeting?
Yes. Dr. Lance D. Bultena received 37,807,443 votes for, and Dr. José-Marie Griffiths received 36,672,583 votes for. Each was elected to serve a three-year term ending at the 2029 Annual Meeting or until a successor is elected and qualified.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 16, 2026
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||||
(Address of principal executive offices, and Zip Code)
(605 ) 692-0200
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |||||
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |||||
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |||||
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) | |||||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On September 17, 2026 the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Daktronics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), following the recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Board, approved an increase in the base salary for our Acting Chief Financial Officer, Howard Atkins. Mr. Atkins’ base salary increased to $1,200,000 annually, effective September 27, 2026. The Board also approved a one-time RSU grant to Mr. Atkins with a grant date fair value of $170,000 in recognition of his continued service as Acting Chief Financial Officer. The RSUs granted will vest pro-rata over a three-year period beginning on the date set forth in the applicable award notice, so long as Mr. Atkins remains continuously employed by the Company or a subsidiary of the Company through each such vesting date; provided however, that the RSUs will become fully vested on the date that the Board appoints a permanent Chief Financial Officer.
Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
(a) On September 16, 2026, the Company held its 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2026 Annual Meeting”). Of the 48,305,826 shares of the Company's common stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the 2026 Annual Meeting, 44,996,443 shares, or 93.2 percent, which constituted a quorum, were represented in person or by proxy at the 2026 Annual Meeting.
(b) Three proposals were voted on at the 2026 Annual Meeting. The proposals are described in more detail in the Proxy Statement. The final results of the votes on the proposals at the 2026 Annual Meeting were as follows:
Proposal 1. Election of Directors. Each of the following individuals was elected as a director of the Company to serve a three-year term that expires on the date of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2029 or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified:
Number of Shares Voted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Director Nominee | For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Dr. Lance D. Bultena | 37,807,443 | 746,452 | 120,869 | 6,321,679 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Dr. José-Marie Griffiths | 36,672,583 | 1,826,527 | 175,651 | 6,321,679 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Proposal 2. Advisory (non-binding) approval of the Company's compensation of its named executive officers. The stockholders approved, on an advisory and non-binding basis, the compensation of the Company's named executive officers as follows:
Number of Shares Voted | ||||||||||||||||||||
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes | |||||||||||||||||
35,223,706 | 3,209,139 | 241,919 | 6,321,679 | |||||||||||||||||
Proposal 3. Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the Company's 2027 fiscal year was ratified as follows:
Number of Shares Voted | ||||||||||||||||||||
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes | |||||||||||||||||
44,023,266 | 916,770 | 56,407 | — | |||||||||||||||||
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit No. | Description | |||||||
104 | Cover page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | |||||||
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
DAKTRONICS, INC. | ||||||||
By: /s/ Howard I. Atkins | ||||||||
Howard I. Atkins, Acting Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | ||||||||
Date: September 18, 2026 | ||||||||