Stock-Based Compensation | 7. Stock-Based Compensation The condensed consolidated statements of operations include ($ 0.3 ) million and $ 1.1 million of stock compensation expense for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The condensed consolidated statements of operations include $ 0.2 million and $ 3.0 million of stock compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Stock compensation expense was lower during the three months ended September 30, 2023 and lower for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the same periods in 2022 because of revisions to forecasts for performance-based share awards under both the short-term and long-term incentive plans. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. The stock-based compensation expense by type is as follows: Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 2022 2023 2022 Service-based awards $ 353 $ 447 $ 1,044 $ 1,150 Performance-based awards (short-term incentive plan) ( 109 ) 346 0 689 Performance-based awards (long-term incentive plan) ( 595 ) 278 ( 1,001 ) 949 Employee stock purchase plan 57 76 176 219 Total $ ( 294 ) $ 1,147 $ 219 $ 3,007 Total stock-based compensation is reflected in the condensed consolidated statements of operations as follows: Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 2022 2023 2022 Cost of revenues $ ( 1 ) $ 61 $ 93 $ 156 Research and development 17 163 110 472 Sales and marketing ( 87 ) 241 21 694 General and administrative ( 223 ) 682 ( 5 ) 1,685 Total $ ( 294 ) $ 1,147 $ 219 $ 3,007 The following table presents a summary of the remaining unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to outstanding share-based awards as of September 30, 2023: Award Type Remaining Unrecognized Compensation Expense Weighted Average Life (Years) Service-based awards $ 1,505 1.3 Performance-based awards $ 93 0.9 Service-Based Awards Restricted Stock The Company grants both service-based and performance-based stock awards to employees pursuant to the PCTEL, Inc. 2019 Stock Incentive Plan. When service-based restricted stock is granted, the Company records deferred stock compensation within additional paid-in capital, representing the fair value of the common stock on the date the restricted shares are granted. The Company records stock compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the applicable service-based restricted shares. For the annual awards granted to executives and key managers in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company awarded long-term incentives comprised of one-third service-based restricted stock and two-thirds performance-based restricted stock. The Company awarded service-based restricted stock to all other participating employees. The following table summarizes service-based restricted stock activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2023: Shares Weighted Unvested Restricted Stock Awards - December 31, 2022 354,037 $ 6.12 Shares awarded 170,960 4.38 Shares vested ( 165,475 ) 6.77 Shares cancelled ( 25,376 ) 5.09 Unvested Restricted Stock Awards - September 30, 2023 334,146 $ 4.98 The intrinsic value of service-based restricted shares that vested during the each of the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was $ 0.8 million. Restricted Stock Units The Company grants service-based and performance-based restricted stock units as employee incentives. Restricted stock units are primarily granted to foreign employees for long-term incentive purposes. Employee restricted stock units are service-based awards and are amortized over the vesting period. At the vesting date, these units are converted to shares of common stock. The Company records expense on a straight-line basis for restricted stock units on the same basis as for restricted stock awards as described above. The following table summarizes the restricted stock unit activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2023: Shares Weighted Unvested Restricted Stock Units - December 31, 2022 35,253 $ 5.42 Units awarded 6,200 4.21 Units vested/Shares awarded ( 12,252 ) 5.57 Unvested Restricted Stock Units - September 30, 2023 29,201 $ 5.12 The intrinsic value of service-based restricted stock units that vested and were issued as shares during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was $ 55 and $ 21 , respectively. Stock Options The Company may grant employees stock options to purchase common stock. The Company issues stock options with exercise prices no less than the fair value of the Company’s stock on the grant date. Employee stock options are subject to installment vesting. Stock options may be exercised at any time prior to their expiration date or within 180 days of termination of employment, or such shorter time as may be provided in the related stock option agreement. The stock options outstanding at September 30, 2023 have a seven-year life. During the third quarter of 2023, 2,000 stock options expired. The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding under all stock option plans at September 30, 2023: Options Outstanding and Exercisable Number of Shares Contractual Intrinsic Value Exercise 2,000 1.37 $ 0 $ 6.98 The intrinsic value is based on the share price of $ 4.16 at September 30, 2023. For outstanding employee stock options, the Company calculated the fair value of each stock option on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Because the Company’s employee stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, the existing models may not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of the employee stock options. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility and expected option life. The dividend yield rate is calculated by dividing the Company’s annual dividend by the closing price on the grant date. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yields with a remaining term that approximates the expected life of the options granted. The expected volatility is based on a five-year historical period of the Company’s stock price. The expected life for options granted is based on historical data of employee exercise performance. The Company records expense based on the graded vesting method. Performance-Based Equity Awards Short-Term Incentive Plan The Company granted short-term incentive awards to executives, key managers, and non-sales employees under the Company’s 2022 Short-Term Incentive Plan (“STIP”) based on upon achievement of specifically identified corporate annual 2022 adjusted EBITDA and revenue goals. In the first quarter 2023, bonuses for 2022 were paid 50 % Company common stock and 50 % in cash for executives and key managers, and 100 % in cash for all other participants. The value of the common stock for 2022 STIP awards was $ 1.2 million. The 2023 STIP awards, like the 2022 STIP awards, will be paid 50 % in cash and 50 % in the Company’s stock for executives and key managers. Long-Term Incentive Plan The Company grants performance-based awards to executives and key managers to encourage sustainable growth, consistent earnings, and management retention. Based on the fair value of the shares on the grant date, the Company records stock compensation expense over the performance period based on the estimated achievement of the award. The following table summarizes the performance award activity: Awards at Target Weighted Unvested Performance Awards - December 31, 2022 521,204 $ 6.85 Awards granted 230,355 4.46 Awards vested ( 53,345 ) 8.70 Awards cancelled ( 129,361 ) 6.25 Unvested Performance Awards - September 30, 2023 568,853 $ 5.52 The Company granted performance awards under its long-term incentive plan to executives in February 2023 (“2023 LTIP”) and non-executives in May 2023. The performance period for the 2023 LTIP is from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2025 . At target, the total fair market value of all performance based awards issued in 2023 was $ 1.0 million based on the share price of $ 4.46 on the grant date. On the award date, the aggregate number of shares that could be earned at target was 230,355 and the maximum number of aggregate shares that could be earned was 403,121 . Under the 2023 LTIP and similar plans from 2022 and 2021, shares of the Company’s stock can be earned based on achievement of a three-year revenue growth target with a penalty if a certain Adjusted EBITDA level is not maintained. If the Company achieves less than the target growth over the performance period, the participant will receive fewer shares than the target award, determined on a straight-line basis. If the Company achieves greater than the target growth, the participant will receive more shares than the target award on an accelerated basis. Participants are required to be in service at the determination date of the award following the end of the performance period in order to receive the award. Shares earned will be fully vested shares. The Company records stock compensation expense over the performance period based on the Company’s estimate of the aggregate number of shares that will be earned under the incentive plan. During the first quarter 2023, the Company issued 53,345 shares with an intrinsic value of $ 0.2 million related to achievement under the 2020 LTIP. The following table summarizes the active performance-based long-term incentive plans at September 30, 2023: Number of Shares Share Price That Could Be Earned: LTIP award on Grant Date Target Maximum Performance Period 2021 LTIP $ 8.23 140,297 245,520 January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2023 2022 LTIP $ 4.83 214,951 376,164 January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024 2023 LTIP $ 4.55 213,605 373,809 January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2025 568,853 995,493 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) The ESPP enables eligible employees to purchase common stock at the lower of 85 % of the fair market value of the common stock on the first or last day of each offering period. Each offering period is approximately six months . Based on the 15 % discount and the fair value of the option feature of the ESPP, it is considered compensatory. Compensation expense is calculated using the fair value of the employees’ purchase rights under the Black-Scholes model. The Company calculated the fair value of each employee stock purchase grant on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model using the following assumptions: Employee Stock Purchase Plan 2023 2022 Dividend yield 5.2 % 4.7 % Risk-free interest rate 4.6 % 1.7 % Expected volatility 48.7 % 48 % Expected life (in years) 0.5 0.5 The dividend yield rate was calculated by dividing the Company’s annual dividend by the closing price on the grant date. The risk-free interest rate was based on the U.S. Treasury yields with a remaining term that approximates the expected life of the purchased shares. The volatility was based on a five-year historical period of the Company’s stock price. The expected life was based on the offering period. At the close of the ESPP offering period ended March 31, 2023, 100,613 shares were purchased in accordance with the terms of the plan. At the close of the ESPP offering period ended September 30, 2023, 95,342 shares were purchased. Board of Director Equity Awards The Company grants restricted stock awards to members of its Board of Directors as an annual retainer and for committee service. These awards are shares of the Company’s stock that vest one year after issuance. In addition, new directors receive a one-time grant that vests over three years . In June 2023, the Company issued 95,966 shares to directors for their annual retainer and committee services. In addition, the Company issued 10,893 shares to its new director. The fair value of the service-based restricted shares for directors that vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was $ 0.6 million. The following table summarizes the director awards activity: Shares Weighted Outstanding - December 31, 2022 120,696 $ 4.02 Shares awarded 106,859 4.59 Shares vested ( 120,696 ) 4.02 Outstanding - September 30, 2023 106,859 $ 4.59 Employee Withholding Taxes on Stock Awards For ease in administering the issuance of employee stock awards, the Company withholds shares of vested restricted stock awards, stock option exercises and short-term and long-term incentive plan stock awards for taxes. The Company withholds the number of shares it computes as having the value of the relevant withholding tax and remits the tax payment to the appropriate tax authority. For withholding taxes related to stock awards, the Company paid $ 0.7 million and $ 0.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. |