David H. Watson is the CEO of Argan, Inc., having taken on the role in August 2022 after serving as the Chief Financial Officer since 2015. Educated with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting and an MBA, both from the University...

David H. Watson is the CEO of Argan, Inc., having taken on the role in August 2022 after serving as the Chief Financial Officer since 2015. Educated with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting and an MBA, both from the University of Maryland, he carries a strong finance background. Prior to joining Argan, he held senior financial positions at Gladstone Investment Corporation and Gladstone Capital Corporation, where he contributed significantly to their financial strategies. Since becoming CEO, David has been focused on aligning the company’s performance with shareholder interests through a rewarding compensation system that encourages strong fiscal discipline. He has overseen a significant increase in his compensation from just over $1.3 million in 2022 to about $1.87 million in 2023, which includes salary, bonuses, and stock options. David’s insider trading activities show a consistent pattern, with significant transactions indicating confidence in the company's future. Notably, his stock holdings have seen considerable growth, demonstrating his commitment to driving Argan forward.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Argan CEOs

A

David H. Watson

CEO of Argan

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of Maryland and an MBA from the University of Maryland.

Field of Expertise

Finance & Banking - Finance

Sector of Economy

Industrials

Born

July 1, 1976 - 48 years ago

CEO of Argan for

2 years 8 months (Aug 2022 - Present)

Previous Experience

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Corporate Secretary since October 2015.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of David H. Watson

Holdings

See how much did David H. Watson make over time.

David H. Watson's stock holdings in Argan, Inc. have shown remarkable growth since his time as CEO. In the last couple of years, he's made large stock transactions, reflecting his strong belief in the company's future. For instance, in October...

David H. Watson's stock holdings in Argan, Inc. have shown remarkable growth since his time as CEO. In the last couple of years, he's made large stock transactions, reflecting his strong belief in the company's future. For instance, in October and November 2023, he sold shares worth approximately $8.82 million and $8.89 million, respectively. His active buying and selling of stock signals a strategic approach to managing his wealth, with periods of robust stock value increases followed by significant liquidations. As of now, his investments in the company remain a large part of his financial portfolio, indicating he has a vested interest in Argan’s ongoing success.

Total Stock Sold

$3.83M

AGX

$3.83M

46,971 AGX shares

What if they kept their stock?

If David H. Watson didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra AGX46,971 shares worth $1.66M.
This is -56.63% and $2.17M less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

AGX

500 shares

AGX

Recent Charitable Transactions

AGX

500 shares

AGX

Dec 18, 2024

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of David H. Watson.

AGX

500 shares

AGX

Dec 18, 2024

Charity

AGX

$1.46M

AGX at $146.05/share

Dec 18, 2024

Sale

AGX

$1.18M

AGX at $77.79/share

Jul 24, 2024

Sale

AGX

$704.65K

AGX at $53.44/share

Apr 16, 2021

Sale

AGX

$35.79K

AGX at $35.79/share

Dec 13, 2019

Purchase

AGX

$566.88K

AGX at $65.54/share

Apr 13, 2017

Sale

AGX

$10.21K

AGX at $29.18/share

Jan 8, 2016

Purchase

AGX

$32.39K

AGX at $32.39/share

Dec 15, 2015

Purchase

Compensation History

See how much did David H. Watson make over time.

In 2023, David H. Watson earned about $1.87 million as total compensation for his role as CEO of Argan, Inc. His salary was set at $400,000, but the bulk of his earnings came from a significant bonus of $575,000 linked to the company’s financial performance and other strategic achievements. Additionally, he had around $845,569 in vested stock awards, which includes performance-based stock options. His pay structure reflects a philosophy that aligns executives' interests with those of shareholders, emphasizing performance metrics like EBITDA and project backlog. In 2022, his total compensation was slightly lower at around $1.39 million, showing a notable increase in 2023 as the company continued to grow.

Year

2023

Total Compensation

$1.83M

Salary

$400.00K

Board Justification

The compensation program is designed to reward and retain executives who contribute to the company's performance and align their interests with those of stockholders.

Bonus

$575.00K

Board Justification

Annual cash bonus awarded for successful short-term financial performance and other achievements that are aligned with our business strategy for Fiscal 2024.

Other

$6.01K

Board Justification

Includes matching and profit-sharing contributions made pursuant to the applicable Company’s 401(k) plan, term life insurance premiums, and car allowance payments.

Restricted Stock

$845.57K(845.57K RSU)

Board Justification

Value of stock awards that vested in 2023, including PRSUs, EPRSUs, and TRSUs, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table.

Performance Metrics

Compensation is based on performance metrics including EBITDA, project backlog, and safety performance.

Other Argan CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Argan

Rainer H. Bosselmann

Ex-CEO of Argan

October 2015 - August 2022