Braemar Hotels shares rise 19.22% premarket after securing waiver to award cash incentives to advisor personnel.

Braemar Hotels & Resorts Inc. surged 19.22% in premarket trading following the announcement of a waiver permitting cash incentives for advisor personnel during early 2026. The company also adopted new deferred compensation frameworks, signaling a strategic shift to enhance employee retention and performance alignment. While the firm reported a Q4 2025 net loss of $0.67 per share, the premarket rally suggests investors viewed the compensation flexibility as a positive step to address operational challenges and improve future earnings potential. The waiver, effective March 13, 2026, allows Braemar to grant discretionary cash awards at its expense, potentially boosting advisor engagement in a competitive market.