It aim to identify the economic determinants that influence the use of stock options plans in Brazilian public companies listed on the Brazilian Securities, Commodities, and Futures Exchange (BM&FBovespa). Theoretically, the study relies on agency theory and corporate governance and executive compensation body of knowledge. Four research hypotheses were drawn concerning financial performance and corporate value; indebtedness; ownership concentration; and size. The sample was comprised of 100 companies with greater liquidity shares and volume for six years (from 2010 to2015).Data were examined from the logistic regression panel. The results lead to the rejection of the first and the fourth hypo the sesindicating, in the case of H1, that the higher financial performance the lower is probability of use stock options and, in the case of H4, that the higher size is related the lower is probability of use of stock options in their incentive plans for executives. The third hypothesis (H3) was not rejected, indicating that the ownership concentration relates negatively with the use of stock options. Regarding the second hypothesis (H2), the results did not present statistical significance indicating the absence of a relationship between indebtedness and the use of stock options. As a summary of the results it was found that the use of stock options tend to be used by lower companies, with lower ownership concentration and lower financial performance.