For $4.4 trillion Nvidia, the world’s most valuable company, hiring plus hefty pay increases and equity gains are driving up the cost of stock-based compensation. Not to mention, there is quite a bit of competition out there for AI-related talent, which has made the hiring landscape incredibly competitive. The price tag for Nvidia’s stock-based comp rose from roughly $4.7 billion in fiscal 2025 to $6.4 billion in fiscal 2026, a 35% jump. Meanwhile, the stock price has risen dramatically, up 60% over the pas ...