Stock-Based Compensation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Q. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION:

In November 2021, the Board of Directors adopted the Amended and Restated 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”) which provides for the granting of non-qualified stock options and restricted stock to the Company’s employees, officers, directors, and outside consultants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock. The number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2021 Plan is 1,041,147 shares of common stock.

Stock-based compensation expense included the following components as of December 31,:

	2023		2022
Stock Options	$	150,556	$	164,576
Restricted Stock		49,356		170,100
	$	199,913	$	334,676

All stock-based compensation expense is recorded in General and Administrative expense in the Statement of Earnings.

Non-Qualified Stock Options

The fair value of options is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model using the assumptions noted in the table below. The fair value is amortized as compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the awards, which is generally the vesting period. The Company uses historical data on employee turnover and terminations to estimate the percentage of options that will ultimately be exercised. Expected volatility is based on historical volatility from a representative sample of publicly traded companies. The expected term represents the period of time that the options are expected to be outstanding. The risk-free interest rate is estimated using the rate of return on U.S. Treasury Notes with a life that approximates the expected life of the option. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual results differ from the estimates. Stock-based compensation is based on awards that are ultimately expected to vest.

Option awards are generally granted with an exercise price equal to the fair value of the Company’s stock at the date of grant; those options generally vest based on four years of continuous service and have 10-years contractual terms.

The Black-Scholes option pricing model assumptions are as follows:

Risk-Free Interest Rate	3.86%
Expected Term	5.5-6.25 years
Expected Volatility	29.24%
Expected Dividends	0%

A summary of option activity under the 2021 Plan as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and changes during the years then ended is presented below:

Options	Shares			Weighted Average Exercise Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at January 1, 2022		1,587,000		$	4.15	$	3,045,700
Granted		68,000		$	1.80		-
Forfeited or Expired and Other Adjustments		(97,000	)	$	4.11		-
Outstanding at December 31, 2022		1,558,000		$	4.15	$	-
Exercisable at December 31, 2022		453,918		$	4.16	$	-
Outstanding at January 1, 2023		1,558,000		$	4.15
Granted		109,500		$	1.54		-
Forfeited or Expired and Other Adjustments		(45,000	)	$	3.11		-
Outstanding at December 31, 2023		1,622,500		$	3.96	$	-
Exercisable at December 31, 2023		859,396		$	4.09	$	-

The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $1.54 and $1.80, respectively. The weighted-average remaining contractual term for the outstanding options is approximately 8 years and 9 years as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Restricted Stock:

Restricted stock consists of time-based restricted stock units (RSUs) and performance-based restricted stock units (PSUs). RSUs granted under the 2021 Plan generally vest over 3 to 4 years, based on continued employment, and are settled upon vesting shares of the Company’s common stock on a one-for-one basis. PSUs granted under the 2021 Plan are issued and vest immediately as various performance goals and targets are achieved.

A summary of restricted stock activity under the 2021 Plan as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and changes during the years then ended is presented below:

Restricted Stock	Time-Based
Outstanding at January 1, 2022		154,960
Granted		145,660
Vested		(227,737	)
Forfeited		(8,717	)
Outstanding at December 31, 2022		64,166
Outstanding at January 1, 2023		64,166
Granted		32,252
Vested		(33,333	)
Forfeited		(10,897	)
Outstanding at December 1, 2023		52,188