(

) Stock-Based Compensation

Under our equity incentive plan, employees and directors

may

be granted stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance awards. Effective

February 17, 2015,

our shareholders approved the

2015

Equity Incentive Plan of Insteel Industries, Inc. (the

“2015

Plan”), which authorizes up to

900,000

shares of our common stock for future grants under the plan. The

2015

Plan, which expires on

February 17, 2025,

replaced the

2005

Equity Incentive Plan of Insteel Industries, Inc., which expired on

February 15, 2015.

As of

September 28, 2019,

there were

143,000

shares of our common stock available for future grants under the

2015

Plan, which is our only active equity incentive plan.

Stock option awards

Under our equity incentive plan, employees and directors

may

be granted options to purchase shares of common stock at the fair market value on the date of the grant. Options granted under the plan generally vest over

three

years and expire

ten

years from the date of the grant. Compensation expense associated with stock options was

$889,000

2019,

$906,000

2018

and

$1.0

million in

2017.

As of

September 28, 2019,

there was

$282,000

of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested options which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of

1.64

years.

The fair value of each option award granted is estimated on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo valuation model. The weighted-average estimated fair values of stock options granted during

2019,

2018

and

2017

were

$7.15,

$12.06

and

$11.08

per share, respectively, based on the following weighted-average assumptions:

	Year Ended
	Septem ber 28 ,			Septem ber 29 ,			Septem ber 30 ,
	201 9			201 8			201 7
Expected term (in years)		4.59			4.79			5.14
Risk-free interest rate		2.03	%		2.71	%		1.98	%
Expected volatility		42.79	%		37.32	%		38.32	%
Expected dividend yield		0.56	%		0.37	%		0.37	%

The assumptions utilized in the Monte Carlo valuation model are evaluated and revised, as necessary, to reflect market conditions and actual historical experience. The expected term for options was based on the results of a Monte Carlo simulation model, using the model’s estimated fair value as an input to the Black-Scholes-Merton model, and then solving for the expected term. The risk-free interest rate for periods within the contractual life of the option was based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant. The expected volatility was derived using a term structure based on historical volatility and the volatility implied by exchange-traded options on our common stock. The dividend yield was calculated based on our annual dividend as of the option grant date.

The following table summarizes stock option activity:

										Contractual
				Exercise Price						Term -	Aggregate
				Per Share						Weighted	Intrinsic
	Options							Weighted		Average	Value
(Share amounts in thousands)	Outstanding			Range				Average		(in years)	(in thousands)
Outstanding at October 1, 2016		371			$9.16	-	$34.49	$	20.81
Granted		88			26.75	-	37.06		30.93
Exercised		(67	)		9.16	-	23.95		19.05		$	1,212
Outstanding at September 30, 2017		392			9.16	-	37.06		23.40
Granted		77			29.69	-	41.85		34.84
Exercised		(196	)		9.16	-	37.06		19.68			3,866
Forfeited		(9	)		23.95	-	37.06		29.88
Outstanding at September 29, 2018		264			10.23	-	41.85		29.25
Granted		129			18.25	-	21.57		19.74
Exercised		(5	)		18.05	-	26.75		23.95			21
Outstanding at September 28, 2019		388			10.23	-	41.85		26.16	7.81		370

Vested and anticipated to vest in the future at September 28, 2019		384							26.17	7.79		366

Exercisable at September 28, 2019		184							27.62	6.31		195

Stock option exercises include “net exercises” for which the optionee received shares of common stock equal to the intrinsic value of the options (fair market value of common stock on the date of exercise less exercise price) reduced by any applicable withholding taxes.

Restricted stock uni

Restricted stock units (“RSUs”) granted under our equity incentive plan are valued based upon the fair market value on the date of the grant and provide for a dividend equivalent payment which is included in compensation expense. The vesting period for RSUs is generally

one

year from the date of the grant for RSUs granted to directors and

three

years from the date of the grant for RSUs granted to employees. RSUs do

not

have voting rights. RSU grants and compensation expense are as follows:

	Year Ended
	September 28,		September 29,		September 30,
(In thousands)	2019		2018		2017
Restricted stock unit grants:
Units		61		35		37
Market value	$	1,225	$	1,175	$	1,180
Compensation expense		1,168		1,172		1,238

As of

September 28, 2019,

there was

$482,000

of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested RSUs which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of

1.74

years.

The following table summarizes RSU activity:

				Weighted
	Restricted			Average
	Stock Units			Grant Date
(Unit amounts in thousands)	Outstanding			Fair Value
Balance, October 1, 2016		145		$	22.35
Granted		37			31.95
Released		(54	)		20.43
Balance, September 30, 2017		128			25.92
Granted		35			33.52
Forfeited		(3	)		29.60
Released		(57	)		22.26
Balance, September 29, 2018		103			30.40
Granted		61			20.18
Released		(49	)		27.64
Balance, September 28, 2019		115			26.16