We maintain several equity incentive plans under which we may grant non-qualified stock options, incentive stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”) or stock appreciation rights to employees, non-employee directors and consultants. We issue new shares of common stock upon exercise of stock options and the vesting of RSUs. We also have an employee stock purchase plan (“ESPP”).

As of October 1, 2023, there were 92.6 million shares of common stock available for issuance pursuant to future equity-based compensation awards and 10.3 million shares available for issuance under our ESPP.

Stock-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated financial statements (in millions):


Fiscal Year Ended	Oct 1, 2023		Oct 2, 2022		Oct 3, 2021
RSUs	$	302.6	$	271.8	$	316.9
Options	0.1		(0.2)		2.2
Total stock-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statements of earnings	$	302.7	$	271.6	$	319.1
Total related tax benefit	$	50.9	$	45.9	$	51.6
Total capitalized stock-based compensation included in net property, plant and equipment on the consolidated balance sheets	$	3.7	$	3.9	$	3.7

We have both time-vested and performance-based RSUs. Time-vested RSUs are awarded to eligible employees and entitle the grantee to receive shares of common stock at the end of a vesting period, subject to the employee’s continuing employment. The time-vested RSUs generally either vest in two or four equal annual installments beginning a year from the grant date. Our

performance-based RSUs are awarded to eligible employees and entitle the grantee to receive shares of common stock if we achieve specified performance goals during the performance period and the grantee remains employed through the vesting period.

RSU transactions for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2023 (in millions, except per share and contractual life amounts):


	Number of Shares	Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Nonvested, October 2, 2022	7.0	$	98.88	1.0	$	587
Granted	4.5	97.66
Vested	(3.1)	95.89
Forfeited/canceled	(1.1)	95.28
Nonvested, October 1, 2023	7.3	99.56		1.0	670

As of October 1, 2023, total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to nonvested RSUs, net of estimated forfeitures, was approximately $175 million, before income taxes, and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 2.1 years. The total fair value of RSUs vested was $292 million, $298 million and $226 million during fiscal 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. For fiscal 2022 and 2021, the weighted average fair value per RSU granted was $107.71 and $96.05, respectively.

We may provide stock options as a form of employee compensation, which are primarily time-vested. Stock options have not been broadly used as part of our compensation strategy in recent years. The majority of time-vested options become exercisable in four equal installments beginning a year from the grant date and generally expire 10 years from the grant date. Options granted to non-employee directors generally vest immediately or one year from grant. All outstanding stock options are non-qualified stock options. No stock options were granted during the fiscal years ended October 1, 2023 and October 2, 2022.

The fair value of stock option awards was estimated at the grant date with the following weighted average assumptions for fiscal 2021:


	Stock Options Granted During the Period
Fiscal Year Ended	2021
Expected term (in years)	8.1
Expected stock price volatility	26.3		%
Risk-free interest rate	1.4		%
Expected dividend yield	1.6		%
Weighted average grant price	$	110.46
Estimated fair value per option granted	$	27.59

The expected term of the options represents the estimated period of time until exercise and is based on historical experience of similar awards, giving consideration to the contractual terms, vesting schedules and expectations of future employee behavior. Expected stock price volatility is based on a combination of historical volatility of our stock and the one-year implied volatility of Starbucks traded options, for the related vesting periods. The risk-free interest rate is based on the implied yield available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with an equivalent remaining term. The dividend yield assumption is based on our anticipated cash dividend payouts. The amounts shown above for the estimated fair value per option granted are before the estimated effect of forfeitures, which reduce the amount of expense recorded in the consolidated statements of earnings.

Stock option transactions for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2023 (in millions, except per share and contractual life amounts):


	Shares Subject to Options	Weighted Average Exercise Price per Share		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding, October 2, 2022	4.1	$	55.86	3.6	$	117
Granted	—	—
Exercised	(2.1)	56.55
Expired/forfeited	0.0	50.26
Outstanding, October 1, 2023	2.0	55.16		2.3	72
Exercisable, October 1, 2023	2.0	55.16		2.3	72
Vested, October 1, 2023	2.0	55.16		2.3	72

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above, which is the amount by which the market value of the underlying stock exceeded the exercise price of outstanding options, is before applicable income taxes and represents the amount optionees would have realized if all in-the-money options had been exercised on the last business day of the period indicated.

As of October 1, 2023, all options outstanding were vested and exercisable. No options vested during fiscal 2023. The total fair value of options vested was $8 million and $14 million during fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised was $98 million, $57 million and $219 million during fiscal 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Our ESPP allows eligible employees to contribute up to 10% of their base earnings toward the quarterly purchase of our common stock, subject to an annual maximum dollar amount. The purchase price is 95% of the fair market value of the stock on the last business day of the quarterly offering period. The number of shares issued under our ESPP was 0.5 million in fiscal 2023.

We have a Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors under which non-employee directors may, for any fiscal year, irrevocably elect to defer receipt of shares of common stock the director would have received upon vesting of restricted stock units. The number of deferred shares outstanding related to deferrals made under this plan is not material.

We maintain voluntary defined contribution plans, both qualified and non-qualified, covering eligible employees as defined in the plan documents. Participating employees may elect to defer and contribute a portion of their eligible compensation to the plans up to limits stated in the plan documents, not to exceed the dollar amounts set by applicable laws.