Note 5 - Stock-Based Compensation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

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

5.        Stock-Based Compensation

We account for share-based awards in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”).  ASC 718 requires that the cost resulting from all share-based payment transactions be recognized in the financial statements. ASC 718 requires all entities to apply a fair-value-based measurement method in accounting for share-based payment transactions with employees except for equity instruments held by employee share ownership plans.

Total compensation expense recognized related to stock-based compensation was $1.5 million and $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.  As of March 31, 2013, total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense was $8.6 million, with a weighted average period over which the remaining unrecognized compensation expense is expected to be recorded of approximately 1.8 years.