STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Summary of compensation cost for stock-based payment arrangements recognized in general and administrative expense


	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

Summary of weighted-average assumptions utilized in determining the fair value of options granted


	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

Summary of stock option activity

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

Summary of information about outstanding and exercisable stock options

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

Summary of restricted stock awards and changes in restricted stock outstanding

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.