Boardroom Alpha
Meeting calendar
CYTK · Annual meeting · Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Cytokinetics Inc

3 nominees · 4 ballot items.

Election of three Class I directors; approval of an amendment to the 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan to add 1,000,000 shares; ratification of Ernst & Young as independent auditor; and an advisory (non-binding) vote to approve Named Executive Officer compensation (say-on-pay).

Market cap
$10.0B
1Y TSR
+125.2%
Board grade
C+
Record date
Mar 31, 2026
Filing
DEF 14A
Meeting concluded · May 27, 2026

Follow how the vote landed and what changed on Cytokinetics Inc’s board — director track records, governance grades, and ongoing monitoring — on the Boardroom Alpha platform.

Proposals

On the ballot4

  1. 1

    Election of Directors

    ManagementBoard: FOR

    Elect three Class I director nominees (Edward M. Kaye, M.D.; Wendell Wierenga, Ph.D.; and Nancy J. Wysenski) to serve three-year terms until the 2029 Annual Meeting.

  2. 2

    Approval of the Amendment and Restatement of the Company’s Amended and Restated 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan to Increase the Number of Authorized Shares Reserved for Issuance Thereunder by 1,000,000 Shares of Common Stock

    ManagementBoard: FOR

    Approve amendment and restatement of the Amended and Restated 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan to increase the share reserve by 1,000,000 shares (from 1,459,879 to 2,459,879).

    More detail

    This management proposal asks stockholders to approve an amendment and restatement of the Company’s Amended and Restated 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan to increase the authorized share reserve by 1,000,000 shares (taking the plan reserve from 1,459,879 to 2,459,879). Management and the Board are seeking shareholder approval to ensure the plan has sufficient shares to continue offering an ESPP, which the Company views as a key employee benefit for recruiting, retaining, and motivating employees in competitive talent markets. The filing notes prior increases to the ESPP reserve (500,000 shares approved in May 2020 and 300,000 shares approved in May 2024), indicating recurring demand for additional shares as the Company grows. The Company quantifies the potential dilution impact: ESPP dilution would rise from approximately 1.2% to about 2.0% if the amendment is approved, and the Board and Compensation Committee explicitly manage dilution when administering equity programs. The ESPP is intended to qualify under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code, offers purchase periods generally of about six months with a purchase price of not less than 85% of the lower of the fair market value at the offering start or purchase date, and limits participation per IRS rules. If approved, the Company intends to register the additional shares on Form S-8 following the meeting to permit issuance. The Board’s recommendation is rooted in corporate governance and talent strategy: management presents the ESPP as an important component of total rewards that aligns employee interests with stockholders and supports commercial and R&D objectives by helping secure and retain necessary talent. Shareholders should weigh the modest dilution against the potential retention and alignment benefits, the plan mechanics (discount, eligibility, and limits), and the Company’s stated governance controls over dilution and administration.

  3. 3

    Ratification of the Appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for 2026

    ManagementBoard: FOR

    Ratify the Audit Committee’s appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026.

  4. 4

    Advisory Proposal on Executive Compensation (Say-on-Pay

    ManagementBoard: FOR

    Advisory (non-binding) vote to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Named Executive Officers as disclosed in the Proxy Statement.

    More detail

    This advisory management proposal asks stockholders to cast a non-binding vote approving the compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers as disclosed in the proxy materials (CD&A, tables and narrative). The Company’s Compensation Committee follows a pay-for-performance philosophy and solicits an annual say-on-pay vote as a standing policy; management contends that the compensation program balances competitive pay, retention, and alignment with stockholder interests through a mix of base salary, annual cash incentive tied to corporate and (for some officers) individual goals, and long-term equity (options and RSUs) with multi-year vesting. The Board recommends approval and will consider the vote outcome when making future compensation decisions, acknowledging the advisory nature of the vote. The proxy disclosures describe detailed 2025 corporate goals (commercial launch readiness for aficamten, pipeline and research milestones, business development and finance objectives, and organizational development) and indicate the Compensation Committee exercised discretion and set a corporate achievement level of 120% for 2025, which materially affected payout determinations. The summary also highlights compensation governance features intended to mitigate risk (independent compensation consultant, stock ownership guidelines, no option repricing, clawback policy, and double-trigger CIC acceleration). Because the vote is non-binding, the practical effect is consultative, but a substantial against vote would typically prompt board engagement with shareholders and potential adjustments to executive pay policies. Shareholders evaluating this proposal should consider the alignment between disclosed pay outcomes and realized company performance, the robustness of governance protections, and the Company’s responsiveness to prior say-on-pay results.

Director elections

Nominees on the ballot3

Independent
Tenure on this board
10.2 yrs
Also a director at
Stoke Therapeutics Inc (STOK)
Independent
Tenure on this board
15.4 yrs
Also a director at
Crinetics Pharmaceuticals Inc (CRNX)
Ownership

Top institutional holders10

Latest 13F quarter
1T. Rowe Price Investment Management, Inc.14.1%17,523,840$1.2B
2BlackRock, Inc.8.1%10,123,391$667M
3FMR LLC7.4%9,203,750$607M
4WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT GROUP LLP5.7%7,122,209$469M
5VANGUARD PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT LLC4.7%5,843,782$385M
6STATE STREET CORP4.6%5,745,193$379M
7VANGUARD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC4.4%5,488,634$362M
8BlackRock, Inc.3.3%4,162,853$274M
9Avoro Capital Advisors LLC2.7%3,333,333$220M
10BANK OF AMERICA CORP /DE/2.4%2,960,898$195M
Filings

Recent key filings

Periodic reports
Definitive proxies
Reference

Frequently asked questions

When is the Cytokinetics Inc 2026 annual meeting?
Cytokinetics Inc (CYTK) holds its 2026 annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
What is the record date for the Cytokinetics Inc 2026 meeting?
The record date for the Cytokinetics Inc 2026 meeting is Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Shareholders of record on or before that date are eligible to vote.
Who are the director nominees for Cytokinetics Inc's 2026 meeting?
The board is presenting 3 director nominees at the Cytokinetics Inc 2026 meeting, listed with their independence status and background.
What proposals will shareholders vote on at the Cytokinetics Inc 2026 meeting?
Shareholders will vote on 4 proposals at the Cytokinetics Inc 2026 meeting, each tagged with who proposed it and the board's recommendation.
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