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Stock-Based Compensation
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]  
Stock-Based Compensation Stock-Based Compensation
As of March 31, 2024, the Company had various stock-based awards outstanding which were issued to executives and other key employees. The Company recognizes the grant-date fair value of all stock-based awards to employees over their respective requisite service periods (generally equal to an award’s vesting period), net of estimated forfeitures. A stock-based award is considered vested for expense attribution purposes when the employee’s retention of the award is no longer contingent on providing subsequent service. For those awards that vest immediately upon retirement eligibility, the Company recognizes compensation cost immediately for retirement-eligible individuals or over the period from the grant date to the date retirement eligibility is achieved, if less than the stated vesting period.
 
The Company’s long-term incentive program for awarding stock-based compensation includes a combination of restricted stock, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), and performance shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the Hubbell Incorporated 2005 Incentive Award Plan as amended and restated (the "Award Plan"). Under the Award Plan, the Company may authorize up to 9.7 million shares of common stock to settle awards of restricted stock, performance shares, or SARs. The Company issues new shares to settle stock-based awards. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company's grant of stock-based awards included restricted stock, SARs and performance shares.

Each of the compensation arrangements is discussed below.

Restricted Stock  

The Company issues various types of restricted stock, of which the restricted stock awards are considered outstanding at the time of grant, as the award holders are entitled to dividends and voting rights. Unvested restricted stock awards are considered participating securities when computing earnings per share. Restricted stock unit award holders are not entitled to dividends or voting rights until settlement. Restricted stock grants are not transferable and are subject to forfeiture in the event of the recipient’s termination of employment prior to vesting.

Restricted Stock Awards Issued to Employees - Service Condition
 
Restricted stock awards that vest based upon a service condition are expensed on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. These awards generally vest either in three equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date or on the third-year anniversary of the grant date. The fair value of these awards is measured by the average of the high and low trading prices of the Company’s common stock on the most recent trading day immediately preceding the grant date (“measurement date”).

In February 2024, the Company granted 37,817 restricted stock awards with a fair value per share of $352.55.
 
Restricted Stock Units Issued to Employees - Service Condition
 
Restricted stock units that vest based upon a service condition are expensed on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. These awards generally vest in three equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date. The fair value of these awards is measured by the average of the high and low trading prices of the Company’s common stock on the measurement date reduced by the present value of dividends expected to be paid during the requisite service period.

In February 2024, the Company granted 1,773 restricted stock units with a fair value per share of $341.19.

Stock Appreciation Rights

SARs grant the holder the right to receive, once vested, the value in shares of the Company's common stock equal to the positive difference between the grant price, as determined using the mean of the high and low trading prices of the Company’s common stock on the measurement date, and the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of exercise. This amount is payable in shares of the Company’s common stock. SARs vest and become exercisable in three equal installments during the first three years following the grant date and expire ten years from the grant date.

In February 2024, the Company granted 62,908 SAR awards. The fair value of each SAR award was measured using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

The following table summarizes the weighted-average assumptions used in estimating the fair value of the SARs granted during February 2024:
Grant DateExpected Dividend YieldExpected VolatilityRisk Free Interest RateExpected TermWeighted Avg. Grant Date Fair Value of 1 SAR
February 20241.6%25.7%4.0%4.8 years$88.03
 
The expected dividend yield was calculated by dividing the Company’s expected annual dividend by the average stock price for the past three months. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatilities of the Company’s stock for a period consistent with the expected term. The expected term of SARs granted was based upon historical exercise behavior of SARs. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the expected term of the award.

Performance Shares

Performance shares represent the right to receive a share of the Company’s common stock subject to the achievement of certain market or performance conditions established by the Company’s Compensation Committee and measured over a three-year period. Partial vesting in these awards may occur after separation from the Company for retirement eligible employees. Shares are not vested until approved by the Company’s Compensation Committee.

Performance Shares - Market Condition

In February 2024, the Company granted 8,736 performance shares that will vest subject to a market condition and service condition through the performance period. The market condition associated with the awards is the Company's total shareholder return ("TSR") compared to the TSR generated by the companies that comprise the S&P Capital Goods 900 index over a three year performance period. Performance at target will result in vesting and issuance of the number of performance shares granted, equal to 100% payout. Performance below or above target can result in issuance in the range of 0%-200% of the number of shares granted. Expense is recognized irrespective of the market condition being achieved.

The fair value of the performance share awards with a market condition for the 2024 grant was determined based upon a lattice model.

The following table summarizes the related assumptions used to determine the fair values of the performance share awards with a market condition granted during February 2024:

Grant DateStock Price on Measurement DateDividend YieldExpected VolatilityRisk Free Interest RateExpected TermWeighted Avg. Grant Date Fair Value
February 2024$352.551.4%30.6%4.1%2.9 years$483.99

Expected volatilities are based on historical volatilities of the Company’s and members of the peer group's stock over the expected term of the award. The risk free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant for the expected term of the award.

Performance Shares - Performance Condition

In February 2024, the Company granted 17,770 performance shares that will vest subject to an internal Company-based performance condition and service requirement.

Fifty percent of these performance shares granted will vest based on Hubbell’s compounded annual growth rate of Net sales as compared to that of the companies that comprise the S&P Capital Goods 900 index. Fifty percent of these performance shares granted will vest based on achieved operating profit margin performance as compared to internal targets. Each of these performance conditions is measured over the same three-year performance period. The cumulative result of these performance conditions can result in a number of shares earned in the range of 0%-200% of the target number of shares granted.

The fair value of the award is measured based upon the average of the high and low trading prices of the Company's common stock on the measurement date reduced by the present value of dividends expected to be paid during the requisite service period. The Company expenses these awards on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period and including an assessment of the performance achieved to date. The weighted average fair value per share was $341.19 for the awards granted during February 2024.
Grant DateFair ValuePerformance PeriodPayout Range
February 2024$341.19Jan 2024 - Dec 2026
0%-200%