Stockholders' Equity

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Stockholders' Equity

Stockholders' Equity

Note 11 - Shareholders’ Equity

Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan

Under our long-term equity incentive plan, we have provided participants with three general categories of grant awards: (a) RSUs with time-based vesting, (b) RSUs with performance-based vesting, and (c) RSUs with performance and market-based vesting.

Each RSU with time-based vesting or performance-based vesting represents a contingent right to receive one share of our common stock. Each RSU with performance and market-based vesting represents a contingent right to receive up to 1.25 shares of our common stock. Dividend equivalent rights accrue with respect to the RSUs as dividends are paid on shares of our common stock and vest proportionately with the RSUs to which they relate. Participants receive the full benefit of the underlying common stock upon vesting.

Time-based RSUs granted prior to fiscal 2020 generally vest in four equal installments on each of the four October 1 dates following the grant date, subject to the recipient’s continued service with the Company through such vesting date. Time-based RSUs granted in fiscal 2020 and 2021 generally vest in three equal installments on each of the three October 1 dates following the grant date, subject to the recipient’s continued service with the Company through such vesting date.

The performance-based RSUs granted to participants vest over three-year performance periods based on our achievement of certain revenue growth targets, earnings growth targets and return on equity targets established by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) over the performance periods, subject to the recipient’s continued service with the Company through the end of the respective performance periods. The level at which we perform against scalable targets over the performance periods will determine the percentage of the RSUs that will ultimately vest.

The performance- and market-based RSUs granted to participants vest over three-year performance periods based on our achievement of revenue growth targets and earnings growth targets subject to the recipient’s continued service with the Company through the end of the respective performance periods. For these RSUs, the relative total stock return (“TSR”) for shares of our common stock as compared to the Russell 2000 Index (the “Index”) over the performance period will result in a multiplier for the number of RSUs that will vest. If the TSR performance exceeds the performance of the Index based on a scale established by the Compensation Committee, the multiplier will result in up to an additional 25% of RSUs vesting at the end of the performance period. If the TSR performance is below the performance of the Index based on a scale established by the Compensation Committee, the multiplier would result in a reduction of up to 25% of these RSUs vesting at the end of the performance period. For the performance- and market-based RSUs granted in fiscal 2020 and 2021, if our absolute TSR is negative for the three-year performance period, the TSR multiplier shall not exceed 100%, regardless of the performance relative to the Index.

Participants who are 60 years of age, and have achieved 10 years of continuous service, are eligible for accelerated vesting of their RSUs. Participants who have reached the retirement age criteria must generally provide us with a one-year notice of retirement. For participants who have reached the retirement age criteria, expense is recognized over the adjusted service period.

The grant date fair value of each RSU with time-based vesting or performance-based vesting is the fair market value of one share of our common stock at the grant date.

The grant date fair value of each RSU with performance and market-based vesting was calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation valuation method. Under this method, the prices of the Index and shares of our common stock were simulated through the end of the performance period. The correlation matrix between shares of our common stock and the Index as well as the corresponding return volatilities were developed based upon an analysis of historical data. The following tables include the assumptions used for the valuation of the RSUs with performance and market-based vesting that were granted during fiscal 2019, 2020 and 2021:

	RSUs granted during fiscal 2021
Valuation Date	November 17, 2020
Grant date fair value per RSU	$57.71
Performance period begins	October 1, 2020
Performance period ends	September 30, 2023
Risk-free interest rate	0.2%
Expected volatility	50%
	RSUs granted during fiscal 2020
Valuation Date	September 17, 2020
Grant date fair value per RSU	$41.13
Performance period begins	October 1, 2019
Performance period ends	September 30, 2022
Risk-free interest rate	0.1%
Expected volatility	52%

At March 31, 2021, the total number of unvested RSUs that are ultimately expected to vest, after consideration of expected forfeitures and estimated vesting of performance-based RSUs, is 376,592 RSUs with time-based vesting, and 395,980 RSUs with performance- and market-based vesting.

The following table summarizes our RSU activity:

	Unvested RSUs with Time-Based Vesting
		Weighted Average
	Number of Shares	Grant-Date Fair Value per Share
Unvested at September 30, 2020	554,423	$	58.54
Granted	249,960		61.09
Vested	(230,975)		58.34
Forfeited	(116,969)		59.17
Unvested at March 31, 2021	456,439	$	59.88

	Unvested RSUs with Performance-Based Vesting
		Weighted Average
	Number of Shares	Grant-Date Fair Value per Share
Unvested at September 30, 2020	137,770	$	61.40
Granted	—		—
Vested	(110,247)		61.40
Forfeited	(27,523)		61.40
Unvested at March 31, 2021	—	$	—

	Unvested RSUs with Performance- and Market-Based Vesting
		Weighted Average
	Number of Shares	Grant-Date Fair Value per Share
Unvested at September 30, 2020	471,496	$	51.56
Granted	277,250		57.71
Vested	—		—
Forfeited	(20,542)		55.09
Unvested at March 31, 2021	728,204	$	53.80

We recorded non-cash compensation expense related to stock-based awards as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	March 31,				March 31,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Cost of sales	$	771	$	743	$	1,372	$	1,282
Selling, general and administrative		5,701		4,639		9,779		8,577
	$	6,472	$	5,382	$	11,151	$	9,859

As of March 31, 2021, there was $46.1 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested RSUs. Based upon the expected forfeitures and the expected vesting of performance-based RSUs, the aggregate fair value of RSUs expected to ultimately vest is $45.8 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.4 years.

We estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and revise those estimates in subsequent periods on a cumulative basis in the period the estimated forfeiture rate changes for all stock-based awards when significant events occur. We consider our historical experience with employee turnover as the basis to arrive at our estimated forfeiture rate. The forfeiture rate was estimated to be 12.5% per year in each of fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2021. To the extent the actual forfeiture rate is different from what we have estimated, compensation expense related to these awards will be different from our expectations.