8) Stock-Based Compensation

The Company measures all employee stock-based compensation awards using a fair value method and records such expense, net of estimated forfeitures, in its consolidated financial statements. Currently, the Company’s stock-based compensation relates to restricted stock awards, stock options and performance stock units. The Company’s restricted stock awards are considered nonvested share awards.

Stock-based compensation expense for the three and six months ended August 29, 2015 was approximately $16.1 million ($10.0 million after tax or $0.06 per diluted share) and approximately $33.9 million ($21.1 million after tax or $0.12 per diluted share), respectively. Stock-based compensation expense for the three and six months ended August 30, 2014 was approximately $15.6 million ($9.7 million after tax or $0.05 per diluted share) and approximately $33.8 million ($21.1 million after tax or $0.11 per diluted share), respectively. In addition, the amount of stock-based compensation cost capitalized for the six months ended August 29, 2015 and August 30, 2014 was approximately $1.0 million and $0.9 million, respectively.

Incentive Compensation Plans

The Company currently grants awards under the Bed Bath & Beyond 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2012 Plan”), which amended and restated the Bed Bath & Beyond 2004 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2004 Plan”). The 2012 Plan includes an aggregate of 43.2 million common shares authorized for issuance and the ability to grant incentive stock options. Outstanding awards that were covered by the 2004 Plan continue to be in effect under the 2012 Plan.

The 2012 Plan is a flexible compensation plan that enables the Company to offer incentive compensation through stock options (whether nonqualified stock options or incentive stock options), restricted stock awards, stock appreciation rights, performance awards and other stock based awards, including cash awards. Under the 2012 Plan, grants are determined by the Compensation Committee for those awards granted to executive officers and by an appropriate committee for all other awards granted. Awards of stock options and restricted stock generally vest in five equal annual installments beginning one to three years from the date of grant. Awards of performance stock units generally vest over a period of four years from the date of grant dependent on the Company’s achievement of performance-based tests and subject, in general, to the executive remaining in the Company’s service on specified vesting dates.

The Company generally issues new shares for stock option exercises, restricted stock awards and vesting of performance stock units. As of August 29, 2015, unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested portion of the Company’s stock options, restricted stock awards and performance stock units was $28.8 million, $148.9 million and $30.1 million, respectively, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.2 years, 4.1 years and 2.5 years, respectively.

Stock Options

Stock option grants are issued at fair market value on the date of grant and generally become exercisable in either three or five equal annual installments beginning one year from the date of grant for options issued since May 10, 2010, and beginning one to three years from the date of grant for options issued prior to May 10, 2010, in each case, subject, in general to the recipient remaining in the Company’s service on specified vesting dates. Option grants expire eight years after the date of grant. All option grants are nonqualified.

The fair value of the stock options granted was estimated on the date of the grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model that uses the assumptions noted in the following table.

	Six Months Ended
Black-Scholes Valuation Assumptions (1)	August 29, 2015			August 30, 2014

Weighted Average Expected Life (in years) (2)		6.7			6.6
Weighted Average Expected Volatility (3)		27.59	%		28.31	%
Weighted Average Risk Free Interest Rates (4)		1.93	%		2.11	%
Expected Dividend Yield		-			-

(1) Forfeitures are estimated based on historical experience.

(2) The expected life of stock options is estimated based on historical experience.

(3) Expected volatility is based on the average of historical and implied volatility. The historical volatility is determined by observing actual prices of the Company’s stock over a period commensurate with the expected life of the awards. The implied volatility represents the implied volatility of the Company’s call options, which are actively traded on multiple exchanges, had remaining maturities in excess of twelve months, had market prices close to the exercise prices of the employee stock options and were measured on the stock option grant date.

(4) Based on the U.S. Treasury constant maturity interest rate whose term is consistent with the expected life of the stock options.

Changes in the Company’s stock options for the six months ended August 29, 2015 were as follows:

(Shares in thousands)	Number of Stock Options			Weighted Average Exercise Price
Options outstanding, beginning of period		3,682		$	51.05
Granted		501			70.96
Exercised		(221	)		35.62
Forfeited or expired		(91	)		63.12
Options outstanding, end of period		3,871		$	54.22
Options exercisable, end of period		2,392		$	46.85

The weighted average fair value for the stock options granted during the first six months of fiscal 2015 and 2014 was $23.12 and $20.96, respectively. The weighted average remaining contractual term and the aggregate intrinsic value for options outstanding as of August 29, 2015 was 4.2 years and $42.6 million, respectively. The weighted average remaining contractual term and the aggregate intrinsic value for options exercisable as of August 29, 2015 was 2.9 years and $40.6 million, respectively. The total intrinsic value for stock options exercised during the first six months of fiscal 2015 and 2014 was $8.2 million and $6.4 million, respectively.

Net cash proceeds from the exercise of stock options for the first six months of fiscal 2015 were $7.9 million and the net associated income tax benefit was $10.2 million.

Restricted Stock

Restricted stock awards are issued and measured at fair market value on the date of grant and generally become vested in five equal annual installments beginning one to three years from the date of grant, subject, in general, to the recipient remaining in the Company’s service on specified vesting dates. Vesting of restricted stock awarded to certain of the Company’s executives is dependent on the Company’s achievement of a performance-based test for the fiscal year of grant and, assuming achievement of the performance-based test, time vesting, subject, in general, to the executive remaining in the Company’s service on specified vesting dates. The Company recognizes compensation expense related to these awards based on the assumption that the performance-based test will be achieved. Vesting of restricted stock awarded to the Company’s other employees is based solely on time vesting.

Changes in the Company’s restricted stock for the six months ended August 29, 2015 were as follows:

(Shares in thousands)	Number of Restricted Shares			Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Unvested restricted stock, beginning of period		3,592		$	57.90
Granted		709			70.36
Vested		(907	)		48.89
Forfeited		(134	)		61.47
Unvested restricted stock, end of period		3,260		$	62.97

Performance Stock Units

Performance stock units (“PSUs”) are issued and measured at fair market value on the date of grant. Vesting of PSUs awarded to certain of the Company’s executives is dependent on the Company’s achievement of a performance-based test during a one-year period from the date of grant and during a three-year period from the date of grant and, assuming achievement of the performance-based test, time vesting, subject, in general, to the executive remaining in the Company’s service on specified vesting dates. Performance during the one-year period will be based on Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (“EBIT”) margin relative to a peer group of the Company. Upon achievement of the one-year performance-based test, the corresponding PSUs will vest annually in substantially equal installments over a three year period starting one year from the date of grant. Performance during the three-year period will be based on Return on Invested Capital (“ROIC”) relative to such peer group. Upon achievement of the three-year performance-based test, the corresponding PSUs will vest on the fourth anniversary date of grant. The awards based on EBIT margin and ROIC range from a floor of zero to a cap of 150% of target achievement. PSUs are converted into shares of common stock upon payment following vesting. Upon grant of the PSUs, the Company recognizes compensation expense related to these awards based on the assumption that 100% of the target award will be achieved. The Company evaluates the target assumption on a quarterly basis and adjusts compensation expense related to these awards, as appropriate.

Changes in the Company’s PSUs for the six months ended August 29, 2015 were as follows:

(Shares in thousands)	Number of Performance Stock Units			Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Unvested performance stock units, beginning of period		391		$	62.34
Granted		370			70.96
Vested		(98	)		62.34
Forfeited		(36	)		67.15
Unvested performance stock units, end of period		627		$	67.15