Government and corporate investigations of stock-option granting practices have accelerated, with many companies reporting regulatory or internal probes. Home Depot is in such a position.

A study released by professors at Harvard University, Cornell University and French business school Insead found that about 850 U.S. chief executives received backdated or otherwise manipulated stock option grants that boosted their annual pay by at least 10%, on average. The Securities and Exchange Commission is currently investigating about 140 companies in its expanding probe with more charges expected in the coming weeks, The Wall Street Journal reported. The Journal has also reported that there have been few enforcement actions because SEC commissioners are divided over penalties for backdating, though the SEC Chairman has denied it.

KB Home (KBH) on Feb. 23 said the Department of Justice notified the company it isn’t a target of the agency’s stock option grant investigation. In a regulatory filing last month, the Los Angeles company said the SEC was formally investigating its stock-option granting practices.
Earlier Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported Federal prosecutors are scrutinized options backdating at KB Home by several former executives.