STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION [Abstract]

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

NOTE 9 - STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Restricted Stock

Under the restricted stock plan approved by our shareholders (the “Restricted Stock Plan”), directors, consultants and employees may be awarded shares of DXP’s common stock. The shares of restricted stock granted to employees and that are outstanding as of September 30, 2014 vest in accordance with one of the following vesting schedules: 100% one year after date of grant; 33.3% each year for three years after date of grant; 20% each year for five years after the grant date; or 10% each year for ten years after the grant date. The Restricted Stock Plan provides that on each July 1 during the term of the plan each non-employee director of DXP will be granted the number of whole shares calculated by dividing $75 thousand by the closing price of the common stock on such July 1. The shares of restricted stock granted to non-employee directors of DXP vest one year after the grant date. The fair value of restricted stock awards is measured based upon the closing prices of DXP’s common stock on the grant dates and is recognized as compensation expense over the vesting period of the awards. Once restricted stock vests, new shares of the Company’s stock are issued.

The following table provides certain information regarding the shares authorized and outstanding under the Restricted Stock Plan at September 30, 2014:

Number of shares authorized for grants	800,000
Number of shares granted	(837,378)
Number of shares forfeited	120,877
Number of shares available for future grants	83,499
Weighted-average grant price of granted shares	$    27.83

Changes in restricted stock for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 were as follows:

	Number of Shares	Weighted Average Grant Price
Non-vested at December 31, 2013	211,510	$ 36.17
Granted	52,219	$ 93.12
Forfeited	(11,968)	$ 35.68
Vested	(48,468)	$ 38.98
Non-vested at September 30, 2014	203,293	$ 50.07

Compensation expense, associated with restricted stock, recognized in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was $2.7 million and $2.2 million, respectively. Related income tax benefits recognized in earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were approximately $1.1 million and $0.8 million, respectively. Unrecognized compensation expense under the Restricted Stock Plan at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was $7.9 million and $5.7 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2014, the weighted average period over which the unrecognized compensation expense is expected to be recognized is 27.5 months.