NOTE 7 STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

On March 2, 2016, the Helmerich & Payne, Inc. 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”) was approved by our stockholders. The 2016 Plan, among other things, authorizes the Human Resources Committee of the Board to grant non-qualified stock options and restricted stock awards to selected employees and to non-employee Directors. Restricted stock may be granted for no consideration other than prior and future services. The purchase price per share for stock options may not be less than market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant. Stock options expire 10 years after the grant date. Awards outstanding in the Helmerich & Payne, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan and the Helmerich & Payne, Inc. 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2010 Plan”) remain subject to the terms and conditions of those plans. There were 396,007 non-qualified stock options and 292,112 shares of restricted stock awards granted under the 2016 Plan during fiscal 2017.

A summary of compensation cost for stock-based payment arrangements recognized in general and administrative expense in fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015 is as follows:


	September 30,
	2017		2016		2015
	(in thousands)
Compensation expense
Stock options	$	7,439	$	8,290	$	8,846
Restricted stock		18,744		16,093		16,349
	$	26,183	$	24,383	$	25,195

Benefits of tax deductions in excess of recognized compensation cost of $4.4 million, $0.9 million and $3.8 million are reported as a financing cash flow in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

STOCK OPTIONS

Vesting requirements for stock options are determined by the Human Resources Committee of our Board of Directors. Options currently outstanding began vesting one year after the grant date with 25 percent of the options vesting for four consecutive years.

We use the Black-Scholes formula to estimate the fair value of stock options granted to employees. The fair value of the options is amortized to compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the stock awards, which are generally the vesting periods. The weighted-average fair value calculations for options granted within the fiscal period are based on the following weighted-average assumptions set forth in the table below. Options that were granted in prior periods are based on assumptions prevailing at the date of grant.


	2017		2016		2015
Risk-free interest rate	2.0	%	1.8	%	1.7	%
Expected stock volatility	38.9	%	37.6	%	36.9	%
Dividend yield	3.7	%	4.6	%	3.9	%
Expected term (in years)	5.5		5.5		5.5

Risk-Free Interest Rate. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury securities for the expected term of the option.

Expected Volatility Rate. Expected volatilities are based on the daily closing price of our stock based upon historical experience over a period which approximates the expected term of the option.

Expected Dividend Yield. The dividend yield is based on our current dividend yield.

Expected Term. The expected term of the options granted represents the period of time that they are expected to be outstanding. We estimate the expected term of options granted based on historical experience with grants and exercises.

Based on these calculations, the weighted-average fair value per option granted to acquire a share of common stock was $20.48, $13.12. and $16.39 per share for fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

The following summary reflects the stock option activity for our common stock and related information for fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015 (shares in thousands):


	2017			2016			2015
		Weighted-Average			Weighted-Average			Weighted-Average
	Options	Exercise Price		Options	Exercise Price		Options	Exercise Price
Outstanding at October 1,	3,312	$	51.74	2,776	$	48.51	2,629	$	43.46
Granted	396		76.61	876		58.25	420		68.83
Exercised	(415)		38.04	(220)		31.52	(255)		28.46
Forfeited/Expired	(15)		68.32	(120)		61.80	(18)		66.78
Outstanding on September 30,	3,278	$	56.41	3,312	$	51.74	2,776	$	48.51
Exercisable on September 30,	2,167	$	50.87	2,225	$	46.66	2,014	$	41.62
Shares available to grant	5,624			6,600			2,515

The following table summarizes information about stock options at September 30, 2017 (shares in thousands):


	Outstanding Stock Options				Exercisable Stock Options
		Weighted-Average	Weighted-Average			Weighted-Average
Range of Exercise Prices	Options	Remaining Life	Exercise Price		Options	Exercise Price
$21.065 to $38.015	714	1.3	$	30.63	714	$	30.63
$47.29 to $59.76	1,618	6.3	$	56.46	1,048	$	55.80
$68.83 to $81.31	946	7.6	$	75.77	405	$	73.75
$21.065 to $81.31	3,278	5.6	$	56.41	2,167	$	50.87

At September 30, 2017, the weighted-average remaining life of exercisable stock options was 4.2 years and the aggregate intrinsic value was $16.1 million with a weighted-average exercise price of $50.87 per share.

The number of options vested or expected to vest at September 30, 2017 was 3,224,548 with an aggregate intrinsic value of $16.2 million and a weighted-average exercise price of $56.19 per share.

As of September 30, 2017, the unrecognized compensation cost related to the stock options was $6.6 million. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.2 years.

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $13.1 million, $6.3 million and $10.7 million, respectively.

The grant date fair value of shares vested during fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $6.7 million, $9.6 million and $8.1 million, respectively.

RESTRICTED STOCK

Restricted stock awards consist of our common stock and are time-vested over three to six years. We recognize compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. The fair value of restricted stock awards under the 2016 Plan is determined based on the closing price of our shares on the grant date. As of September 30, 2017, there was $21.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock awards. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.2 years.

A summary of the status of our restricted stock awards as of September 30, 2017, and of changes in restricted stock outstanding during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015, is as follows (shares in thousands):


	2017			2016			2015
		Weighted-Average			Weighted-Average			Weighted-Average
		Grant Date Fair			Grant Date Fair			Grant Date Fair
	Shares	Value per Share		Shares	Value per Share		Shares	Value per Share
Outstanding at October 1,	648	$	64.24	668	$	67.03	634	$	64.03
Granted	292		78.69	294		58.25	275		68.83
Vested (1)	(271)		63.81	(256)		64.75	(214)		60.80
Forfeited	(10)		68.09	(58)		63.65	(27)		64.45
Outstanding on September 30,	659	$	70.76	648	$	64.24	668	$	67.03

(1)

The number of restricted stock awards vested includes shares that we withheld on behalf of our employees to satisfy the statutory tax withholding requirements.