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Stock-Based Compensation
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2022
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]  
Stock-Based Compensation

8. Stock-Based Compensation

The condensed consolidated statements of operations include $0.8 million and $0.6 million of stock compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.  The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.

The stock-based compensation expense by type is as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Service-based awards

 

$

320

 

 

$

455

 

Performance-based awards (short-term incentive plan)

 

 

81

 

 

 

58

 

Performance-based awards (long-term incentive plan)

 

 

306

 

 

 

39

 

Employee stock purchase plan

 

 

67

 

 

 

66

 

Total

 

$

774

 

 

$

618

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total stock-based compensation is reflected in the condensed consolidated statements of operations as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Cost of revenues

 

$

65

 

 

$

69

 

Research and development

 

 

136

 

 

 

142

 

Sales and marketing

 

 

197

 

 

 

160

 

General and administrative

 

 

376

 

 

 

247

 

Total

 

$

774

 

 

$

618

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following table presents a summary of the remaining unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to outstanding share-based awards as of March 31, 2022 :

Award Type

 

Remaining Unrecognized Compensation Expense

 

 

Weighted Average Life (Years)

 

Service-based awards

 

$

2,257

 

 

 

1.6

 

Performance-based awards

 

$

2,593

 

 

 

2.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service-Based Awards

Restricted Stock

The Company grants both service-based and performance-based stock awards to employees pursuant to the PCTEL, Inc. 2019 Stock Incentive Plan. When service-based restricted stock is granted, the Company records deferred stock compensation within additional paid-in capital, representing the fair value of the common stock on the date the restricted shares are granted. The Company records stock compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the applicable service-based restricted shares. During the first quarter of 2022, the Company awarded executives and key-managers long-term incentives comprised one-third of service-based restricted stock and two-thirds of performance-based restricted stock. The Company awarded service-based restricted stock to all other participating employees.

The following table summarizes service-based restricted stock activity for the three months ended March 31, 2022: 

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average

Fair Value

 

Unvested Restricted Stock Awards - December 31, 2021

 

 

326,336

 

 

$

7.76

 

Shares awarded

 

 

230,744

 

 

 

4.73

 

Shares vested

 

 

(163,550

)

 

 

7.28

 

Unvested Restricted Stock Awards - March 31, 2022

 

 

393,530

 

 

$

6.18

 

 

 

      

The intrinsic value of service-based restricted shares that vested during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 was $0.8 million and $1.9 million, respectively.       

Restricted Stock Units

The Company grants service-based restricted stock units as employee incentives. Restricted stock units are primarily granted to foreign employees for long-term incentive purposes. Employee restricted stock units are service-based awards and are amortized over the vesting period. At the vesting date, these units are converted to shares of common stock. The Company records expense on a straight-line basis for restricted stock units.

The following table summarizes the restricted stock unit activity during the three months ended March 31, 2022:

 

 

Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average

Fair Value

 

Unvested Restricted Stock Units - December 31, 2021

 

 

21,437

 

 

$

7.23

 

Units awarded

 

 

24,667

 

 

 

4.52

 

Units vested/Shares awarded

 

 

(3,201

)

 

 

7.47

 

Unvested Restricted Stock Units - March 31, 2022

 

 

42,903

 

 

$

5.59

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The intrinsic value of service-based restricted stock units that vested and were issued as shares during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 was $16 and $25, respectively.       

 

Stock Options

The Company may grant employees options to purchase the Company’s common stock. The Company issues stock options with exercise prices no less than the fair value of the Company’s stock on the grant date. Employee stock options are subject to installment vesting typically over a period of not less than three years. Stock options may be exercised at any time prior to their expiration date or within 180 days of termination of employment, or such shorter time as may be provided in the related stock option agreement. The stock options outstanding at March 31, 2022 have a seven-year life. There was no activity related to stock options during the first quarter 2022.        

 

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding under all stock option plans at March 31, 2022:

 

 

 

Options Outstanding

 

 

Options Exercisable

 

Range of

Exercise Prices

 

Number

Outstanding

 

 

Weighted

Average

Contractual

Life (Years)

 

 

Intrinsic Value

 

 

Weighted-

Average

Exercise

Price

 

 

Number

Exercisable

 

 

Weighted

Average

Contractual

Life (Years)

 

 

Intrinsic Value

 

 

Weighted

Average

Exercise

Price

 

$ 5.06 - $ 6.98

 

 

4,000

 

 

 

2.17

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

6.02

 

 

 

4,000

 

 

 

2.17

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

6.02

 

 

 

 

Weighted

Average

Contractual

Life (years)

 

 

Intrinsic

Value

 

Options Outstanding

 

 

2.67

 

 

$

2

 

Options Exercisable

 

 

2.63

 

 

$

2

 

 

The intrinsic value is based on the share price of $4.64 at March 31, 2022.

For outstanding stock options, the Company calculated the fair value of each option on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Because the Company’s employee stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, the existing models may not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of the employee stock options. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility and expected option life.  

The dividend yield rate is calculated by dividing the Company’s annual dividend by the closing price on the grant date. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yields with a remaining term that approximates the expected life of the options granted. The expected volatility is based on a five-year historical period of the Company’s stock price. The expected life for options granted is based on historical data of employee exercise performance. The Company records expense based on the graded vesting method.  

Performance-Based Equity Awards

Short-Term Incentive Plan

The Company granted short-term inventive awards to executives, key managers, and non-sales employees under the Company’s 2022 Short-Term Incentive Plan (“STIP”) based on upon achievement of specifically identified corporate annual 2022 adjusted EBITDA and revenue goals. The 2022 STIP awards, like the 2021 STIP awards, will be paid 50% in cash and 50% in the Company’s stock.

In the first quarter 2022 the Board of Directors exercised its discretion to approve awards equal to those payable for achievement of the adjusted EBITDA goal at the threshold level. Individuals received awards in an amount equal to the amount that would have been received had the Company and the threshold Adjusted EBITDA. No awards were received by 2021 STIP participants with respect to the revenue goal. Bonuses were paid during the first quarter 2022 50% in the Company’s common stock for a total of $0.3 million and 50% in cash for executives and key managers and 100% in cash for all other participants.

 

Long-Term Incentive Plan

The Company grants performance-based awards to executives and key managers to encourage sustainable growth, consistent earnings, and management retention. Based on the fair value of the shares on the grant date, the Company records stock compensation expense over the performance period based on the estimated achievement of the award.   

The following table summarizes the performance award activity:

 

 

Awards at Target

 

 

Weighted

Average

Fair Value

 

Unvested Performance Awards - December 31, 2021

 

 

333,153

 

 

$

8.39

 

Awards granted

 

 

269,618

 

 

 

4.84

 

Awards cancelled

 

 

(3,600

)

 

 

8.30

 

Unvested Performance Awards - March 31, 2022

 

 

599,171

 

 

$

6.82

 

 

The Company granted performance awards under its long-term incentive plan to executives and key managers in February 2022 (“2022 LTIP”). The performance period for the 2022 LTIP is from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024. At target, the total fair market value of the award was $1.3 million based on the average share price of $4.84 on the grant date. On the award date, the aggregate number of shares that could be earned at target was 269,618 and the maximum number of aggregate shares that could be earned was 471,832.  

Under the 2022 LTIP and similar plans from 2021 and 2020, shares of the Company’s stock can be earned based on achievement of a three-year revenue growth target with a penalty if a certain adjusted EBITDA level is not maintained. If the Company achieves less than the target growth over the performance period, the participant will receive fewer shares than the target award, determined on a straight-line basis. If the Company achieves greater than the target growth, the participant will receive more shares than the target award on an accelerated basis. Participants are required to be in service at the determination date of the award following the end of the performance period in order to receive the award. Shares earned will be fully vested shares. The Company records stock compensation expense over the performance period based on the Company’s estimate of the aggregate number of shares that will be earned under the incentive plan.     

The following table summarizes the active performance-based long-term incentive plans at March 31, 2022:

                           

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of Shares

 

 

 

 

 

Share Price

 

 

That Could Be Earned:

 

 

 

LTIP award

 

on Grant Date

 

 

Target

 

Maximum

 

 

Performance Period

2020 LTIP

 

$

8.70

 

 

 

143,289

 

 

250,756

 

 

January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2022

2021 LTIP

 

$

8.25

 

 

 

186,264

 

 

325,962

 

 

January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2023

2022 LTIP

 

$

4.84

 

 

 

269,618

 

 

471,832

 

 

January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

599,171

 

 

1,048,550

 

 

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”)

The ESPP enables eligible employees to purchase common stock at the lower of 85% of the fair market value of the common stock on the first or last day of each offering period. Each offering period is approximately six months.     

Based on the 15% discount and the fair value of the option feature of the ESPP, it is considered compensatory. Compensation expense is calculated using the fair value of the employees’ purchase rights under the Black-Scholes model.

The Company calculated the fair value of each employee stock purchase grant on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model using the following assumptions:

 

 

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Dividend yield

 

 

4.7

%

 

 

3.1

%

Risk-free interest rate

 

 

1.7

%

 

 

0.1

%

Expected volatility

 

 

48

%

 

 

48

%

Expected life (in years)

 

 

0.5

 

 

 

0.5

 

 

 

The dividend yield rate was calculated by dividing the Company’s annual dividend by the closing price on the grant date. The risk-free interest rate was based on the U.S. Treasury yields with a remaining term that approximates the expected life of the options granted. The volatility was based on a five-year historical period of the Company’s stock price. The expected life was based on the offering period.

Board of Director Equity Awards

In May, the Company grants equity awards to members of its Board of Directors as an annual retainer and for committee service. These awards are shares of the Company’s common stock that vest one year after issuance. In addition, new directors receive a one-time grant that vests over three years. There was no activity related to director awards during the first quarter 2022.     

The number of unvested director awards was as follows at March 31, 2022:

 

 

Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average

Fair Value

 

Outstanding - March 31, 2022

 

 

11,534

 

 

$

6.57

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee Withholding Taxes on Stock Awards

For ease in administering the issuance of stock awards, the Company holds back shares of vested restricted stock awards, stock option exercises and short-term and long-term incentive plan stock awards for the value of the statutory withholding taxes. For everyone receiving a share award, the Company redeems the shares it computes as the value for the withholding tax and remits this amount to the appropriate tax authority. For withholding taxes related to stock awards, the Company paid $0.4 million and $0.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

 

Stock Repurchases

 On November 4, 2020, the Board of Directors approved a $5.0 million share repurchase program. The Company spent $3.2 million during 2021 to repurchase 495,144 shares at an average price of $6.45 under this plan. The Company retired all repurchased shares. This repurchase plan ended in September 2021 with the completion of $5.0 million of share repurchases.