Stock-Based Compensation

6 Months Ended

Oct. 28, 2023

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

The table below summarizes the total stock-based compensation expense we recognized for all outstanding grants in our consolidated statement of income:


	Quarter Ended				Six Months Ended
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)	10/28/2023		10/29/2022		10/28/2023		10/29/2022
Equity-based awards expense	$	4,811	$	3,662	$	7,337	$	5,079
Liability-based awards expense (1)	(35)		18		53		146
Total stock-based compensation expense	$	4,776	$	3,680	$	7,390	$	5,225

(1)Includes stock appreciation rights, deferred stock units issued to Directors, restricted stock units, and performance-based units. Compensation expense for these awards is based on the market price of our common stock on the grant date and is remeasured each reporting period based on the market value of our common shares on the last day of the reported period.

Restricted Stock. During the first quarter of fiscal 2024, we granted 330,140 shares of restricted stock units to employees and we also have restricted stock awards outstanding from previous grants. We issue restricted stock at no cost to the employees and account for restricted stock awards as equity-based awards because when they vest, they will be settled in common shares. We recognize compensation expense for restricted stock over the vesting period equal to the fair value on the date our Compensation and Talent Oversight Committee of our board of directors approved the awards. Restricted stock awards vest at 25% per year, beginning one year from the grant date for a term of four years, with continued vesting upon retirement with respect to the fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2024 grants. We accelerate the expense for restricted stock granted to retirement-eligible employees over the vesting period, with expense recognized from the grant date through their retirement eligibility date or over the ten months following the grant date, whichever period is longer. We have elected to recognize forfeitures as an adjustment to compensation expense in the same period as the forfeitures occur. The weighted-average fair value of the restricted stock that was awarded in the first six months of fiscal 2024 was $27.66 per share, the market value of our common shares on the date of grant.

Restricted Stock Units Issued to Directors. During the first six months of fiscal 2024, we granted 35,736 restricted stock units to our non-employee directors. Restricted stock units granted to our non-employee directors are offered at no cost to the directors and restricted stock units granted following August 2022 vest on the earlier of the date a director ceases to be a member of the board (for any reason other than the termination of service for cause) or the-one year anniversary of the grant date. We account for these restricted stock units as equity-based awards because when they vest, they will be settled in shares of our common stock. We measure and recognize compensation expense for these awards based on the market price of our common shares on the date of grant. The weighted-average fair value of the restricted stock units granted to our non-employee directors in the first six months of fiscal 2024 was $30.80 per share.

Performance Shares. During the first quarter of fiscal 2024, we granted 219,154 performance-based shares, and we also have performance-based share awards outstanding from previous grants. Payouts of these grants depend on our financial performance (50%) and a market-based condition based on the total return our shareholders receive on their investment in our stock relative to returns earned through investments in other public companies (50%). The performance share opportunity ranges from 50% of the employee’s target award if minimum performance requirements are met to a maximum of 200% of the

target award based on the attainment of certain financial and shareholder-return goals over a specific performance period, which is generally three fiscal years.

We account for performance-based shares as equity-based awards because when they vest, they will be settled in common shares. In the event of an employee's termination during the vesting period, the potential right to earn shares under this program is generally forfeited and we have elected to recognize forfeitures as an adjustment to compensation expense in the same period in which the forfeitures occur. For shares that vest based on our results relative to the performance goals, we expense as compensation cost the fair value of the shares as of the day we granted the awards recognized over the performance period, taking into account the probability that we will satisfy the performance goals. The fair value of each share of the awards we granted in fiscal 2024 that vest based on attaining performance goals was $25.48, the market value of our common shares on the date we granted the awards less the dividends we expect to pay before the shares vest. For shares that vest based on market conditions, we use a Monte Carlo valuation model to estimate each share’s fair value as of the date of grant. The Monte Carlo valuation model uses multiple simulations to evaluate our probability of achieving various stock price levels to determine our expected performance ranking relative to our peer group. For shares that vest based on market conditions, we expense compensation cost over the vesting period regardless of whether the market condition is ultimately satisfied. Based on the Monte Carlo model, the fair value as of the grant date of the fiscal 2024 grant of shares that vest based on market conditions was $34.15.

Stock Options. We did not grant stock options to employees during fiscal 2024, but we have stock options outstanding from grants from prior years. We account for stock options as equity-based awards because when they are exercised, they will be settled in common shares. We recognize compensation expense for stock options over the vesting period equal to the fair value on the date our Compensation and Talent Oversight Committee of our board of directors approved the awards. The vesting period for our stock options ranges from one to four years, with accelerated vesting upon retirement. The vesting date for retirement-eligible employees is the later of the date they meet the criteria for retirement or ten months after the grant date. We accelerate the expense for options granted to retirement eligible employees over the vesting period, with expense recognized from the grant date through their retirement eligibility date or over the ten months following the grant date, whichever period is longer. We have elected to recognize forfeitures as an adjustment to compensation expense in the same period as the forfeitures occur. Granted options outstanding under the former long-term equity award plan remain in effect and have a term of 10 years. We estimated the fair value of the employee stock options granted in prior years at their respective grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which requires management to make certain assumptions.