Yahoo's Semel gets raise, stock

Yahoo CEO Terry Semel got a $150,000 raise in 2003 and was also awarded 2.9 million in new stock options, according to a regulatory filing. Semel made $600,000 in 2003, with no bonus, while Yahoo Chief Financial Officer Susan Decker and Chief Operating Officer Daniel Rosensweig made $500,000 each. Decker, Rosensweig and Chief Technical Officer Farzad Nazem each received 45,000 shares of restricted stock that will be granted based on performance and employment conditions. The officers also were each granted 125,000 stock options at an exercise price of $41.16 a share. The filing said Semel's available stock options were worth $199.3 million after factoring in the exercise prices of his shares. The calculations were based on a closing price of $45.03 as of Dec. 31, 2003.

The Internet bellwether blew past Wall Street expectations this week when it posted $101 million in quarterly profit, or 14 cents a share, and $197 million in free cash flow. Yahoo also announced a 2-for-1 stock split, sending its stock price to a 52-week high of $56.21 at the end of trading Thursday.