Simulations & Tools

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)

A form of employee compensation issued in the form of company stock rather than cash.

In the tech and corporate world, Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) are used to align an employee’s interests with the company’s success. An RSU is simply a promise to deliver shares of the company’s stock to the employee at a future date, provided certain conditions (usually simply working at the company) are met.

Unlike stock options, RSUs always have value so long as the company’s stock does not drop to zero, because you do not have to 'buy' the shares at a strike price. Once the RSUs vest, they are essentially indistinguishable from cash bonuses paid in the form of shares.

Using the StressTest.pro Equity Simulator, employees can project the true after-tax liquid value of their RSU grants over a multi-year vesting ladder under various growth scenarios.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are RSUs taxed?

Typically, RSUs are taxed heavily as ordinary income the exact moment they vest. Most employers automatically 'sell to cover' by withholding 22-37% of the shares to pay the estimated tax burden, depositing the remaining shares into your brokerage.

See Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) in Action

Run a real backtest on any stock or ETF to see Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) computed live from 10 years of data.

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Disclaimer

The information provided by StressTest.pro is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Investment involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Calculations are based on historical data and statistical approximations.