STOCK COMPENSATION

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

STOCK COMPENSATION [Abstract]

Stock Compensation

STOCK COMPENSATION

The following table represents total stock based compensation expense for non-qualified stock options, restricted stock units (“RSU”) and the tax related benefit for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011:

	Three Months Ended
(in thousands)	2012		2011
Stock option expense	$	2,381	$	2,338
RSU expense	1,546		2,051
Total stock based compensation expense	$	3,927	$	4,389
Total related tax benefit	$	1,231	$	1,253

At March 31, 2012, the remaining unamortized compensation cost related to non-qualified stock options is $21.8 million, which will be expensed over the weighted average remaining vesting period of the options, or 2.0 years. At March 31, 2012, the unamortized compensation cost related to RSU is $22.8 million, which will be expensed over the remaining restricted period of the RSU, or 1.9 years.

The following table reflects the non-qualified stock option transactions from December 31, 2011 through March 31, 2012:

	Outstanding						Exercisable
(in thousands, except per share data)	Shares		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value		Shares	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
December 31, 2011	10,148		$	31.23	$	51,402	8,049	$	30.06	$	50,365
Granted	1,236		38.74
Exercised	(622	)	23.27
Cancelled	(14	)	38.48
Forfeited	(21	)	36.37
March 31, 2012	10,727		$	32.54	$	86,449	7,870	$	30.94	$	77,353

At March 31, 2012 the weighted average remaining contractual term of all outstanding options is 6.2 years and the weighted average remaining contractual term of exercisable options is 5.1 years.

The following table summarizes the unvested RSU transactions from December 31, 2011 through March 31, 2012:

(in thousands, except per share data)	Shares		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
December 31, 2011	897		$	32.50
Granted	396		38.74
Vested	(238	)	26.24
Forfeited	(19	)	35.74
March 31, 2012	1,036		$	36.26