STOCK AWARD PLANS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized as expense as it vests. A summary of our total compensation expense recognized in our condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for stock-based compensation is as follows (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Stock options	$	2,218	$	3,262	$	6,678	$	9,744
Stock awards	12,836		21,788		27,828		65,738
Company expense on ESPP discount	613		761		2,803		2,864
Total stock-based compensation expense	$	15,667	$	25,811	$	37,309	$	78,346

On May 5, 2022, our shareholders approved a 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and authorized an initial 4,261,884 shares for issuance of awards thereunder. The Plan allows us to grant certain stock awards, including stock options at fair market value, performance-based restricted stock units and shares, and time-based restricted stock units, to our key employees and non-employee directors. Shares subject to awards under the Plan or certain of our prior plans that expire or are canceled without delivery of shares or that are settled in cash generally become available again for issuance under the Plan. There were 3,317,410 shares available for stock awards under the Plan as of September 30, 2023.

Stock Options - We have awarded stock options to certain key employees that vest primarily based on their continued employment. The fair value of these options was established based on the market price on the date of grant calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Changes in measured stock price volatility and interest rates were the primary reasons for changes in the fair value. These grants are being expensed based on the terms of the awards. As of September 30, 2023, unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options was $6.6 million.

Stock Awards - We have awarded performance-based restricted shares, performance-based restricted stock units (“PSUs”), and time-based restricted stock units. Nearly all of our awards contain restrictions on the awardees’ ability to sell or transfer vested awards for a specified period of time. The fair value of these awards is established based on the market price on the date of grant, discounted for any post-vesting holding restrictions. The discounts on outstanding grants with post-vesting holding restrictions vary from 11 percent to 24 percent and are calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model-protective put method. The duration of the restriction period to sell or transfer vested awards, changes in the measured stock price volatility and changes in interest rates are the primary reasons for changes in the discount. These grants are being expensed based on the terms of the awards.

Performance-based Awards

We have awarded performance-based restricted shares through 2020 to certain key employees. These awards vest over a five-year period based on the company’s dilutive earnings per share growth. Beginning in 2021, we have awarded annually PSUs to certain key employees. These PSUs vest over a three-year period based on the achievement of certain dilutive earnings per share, adjusted gross profits, and adjusted operating margin targets. These PSUs contain an upside opportunity of up to 200 percent of target contingent upon obtaining certain targets mentioned above over their respective performance period.

Time-based Awards

We award time-based restricted stock units to certain key employees. Time-based awards granted through 2020 vest over a five-year period. Beginning in 2021, we have granted annually time-based awards that vest over a three-year period. These awards vest primarily based on the passage of time and the employee’s continued employment.

We granted 272,455 PSUs at target and 688,341 time-based restricted stock units in February 2023. The PSUs and time-based restricted stock unit awards had a weighted average grant date fair value of $92.15 and $92.74, respectively, and vest over a three-year period as described above.

We have also awarded restricted stock units to certain key employees and non-employee directors, which are fully vested upon date of grant. These units contain restrictions on the awardees’ ability to sell or transfer vested units for a specified period of time. The fair value of these units is established using the same method discussed above. These awards have been expensed on the date of grant.

As of September 30, 2023, there was unrecognized compensation expense of $227.6 million related to previously granted stock awards assuming maximum achievement is obtained on our PSUs. The amount of future expense to be recognized will be based on the passage of time and contingent upon obtaining certain targets mentioned above over their respective performance period.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan - Our 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) allows our employees to contribute up to $10,000 of their annual cash compensation to purchase company stock. The purchase price is determined using the closing price on the last day of each quarter discounted by 15 percent. Shares vest immediately. The following is a summary of the employee stock purchase plan activity (dollars in thousands):


Three Months Ended September 30, 2023
Shares purchased by employees	Aggregate cost to employees		Expense recognized by the company
47,446	$	3,474	$	613