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doctorbaum | 5 years ago

What's the difference, for the laymen

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iso1210|5 years ago

Say Spotify's share price is $100, and as part of your compensation you are given an option to buy 100 shares at $100 in 5 years time

If Spotify in 5 years time is $500, you buy 100 shares for $10k, and immediately sell them for $50k, making a $40k profit (or you keep them).

If Spotify in 5 years time is $102, you buy 100 shares for $10k and sell for $10,200, making $200

If Spotify shares in 5 years times is $90, you don't bother buying the shares, but your options are worthless.

Now imagine you were given 100 shares instead, but couldn't sell them for 5 years (an RSU - or restricted stock unit)

In 5 years time, if Spotify is $500/share, your shares are worth $50k

In 5 years time, if Spotify is $102/share, your shares are worth $10,200

In 5 years time, if Spotify is $90/share, your shares are worth $9,000

maria_weber23|5 years ago

Yeah this model sucks, unless they give you A LOT more of these options than they would give you RSUs. Then it could work out, if you believe in the company.

tomerico|5 years ago

You only earn money if the stock price appreciate

closetnerd|5 years ago

I'm envious of your laymen speak.

Exactly right.

RSU means they gave you the stock at price X. Options mean, they gave you the right to buy the stock at price X sometime in the future.

dominotw|5 years ago

so its like call options where employer eats the option fee?