Share-Based Compensation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Share-Based Compensation

8 - Share–Based Compensation

We measure all share-based payments to employees, including grants of stock options, and use a fair-value-based method for the recording of related compensation expense in our consolidated statements of income. In determining the expense we record for stock options granted to directors and employees of our subsidiaries and affiliates, we estimate the fair value of each option award on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The significant assumptions we utilize in applying the Black-Scholes option pricing model are the risk-free interest rate, the expected term, the dividend yield and the expected volatility.

We charged compensation expense related to our stock compensation plans against income before income taxes of $414,696 and $598,516 for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, with a corresponding income tax benefit of $145,143 and $209,481, respectively. We charged compensation expense related to our stock compensation plans against income before income taxes of $2.0 million and $1.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, with a corresponding income tax benefit of $710,584 and $671,607, respectively. At September 30, 2016, we had $2.0 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested share-based compensation granted under our stock compensation plans. We expect to recognize this compensation expense over a weighted average period of approximately 1.3 years.

We received cash from option exercises under all stock compensation plans during the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 of $3.7 million and $181,488, respectively. We received cash from option exercises under all stock compensation plans during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 of $7.8 million and $13.7 million, respectively. We realized actual tax benefits for the tax deductions related to option exercises of $243,656 and $4,802 for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. We realized actual tax benefits for the tax deductions related to option exercises of $521,852 and $424,537 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.