In light of Microsoft’s recent decision to replace its stock option plans with restricted stock units, the executive compensation specialists at Equilar decided to analyze the prevalence of restricted stock awards among S&P 1500 CEOs.

Their findings? The percentage of companies that awarded restricted stock to their CEO increased from 20.2 percent in 2000 to nearly 25 percent last year, and the median value of those awards increased each year as well.

But Equilar doesn't believe restricted stock awards will replace stock option grants; over 80 percent of the S&P 1500 CEOs who received a restricted stock award also received a stock option grant in the same year.

"Such patterns seem to indicate that restricted stock is viewed as one component of a long-term incentive compensation package," the study concluded.

  Download A Copy Of Equilar's Study On Restricted Stock Awards