Stock-Based Compensation | NOTE L – Stock-Based Compensation Our equity compensation plans provide for the grant of incentive and nonqualified stock options, as well as other stock-based awards including PSUs, RSAs, RSUs, and DSUs, to employees, non-employee directors and other consultants who provide services to us. We also provide an ESPP and 401(k) stock match. RSAs result in the issuance of new shares when granted. For other stock-based awards, new shares are issued when the award is exercised, vested, or released according to the terms of the agreement. In February 2020, February 2019, and January 2018, 2.1 million additional shares were reserved for future issuance under our 2010 Equity Incentive Plan. At December 31, 2020 there were approximately 15.8 million shares available for grant under approved equity compensation plans. Stock-based compensation expense was allocated as follows: Year Ended December 31, (in thousands) 2020 2019 2018 Cost of revenues $ 3,948 $ 2,819 $ 2,168 Operating expenses Sales and marketing 4,119 2,946 2,675 Research and development 3,626 2,651 1,505 General and administrative 7,243 6,274 6,162 $ 18,936 $ 14,690 $ 12,510 Stock-based compensation expense by type was as follows: Year Ended December 31, (in thousands) 2020 2019 2018 Stock options $ 2,232 $ 3,211 $ 3,355 PSUs 3,219 1,379 1,034 RSUs 10,367 7,553 5,930 RSAs and DSUs 446 519 487 ESPP 1,117 701 466 401(k) stock match 1,555 1,327 1,238 $ 18,936 $ 14,690 $ 12,510 As of December 31, 2020, there was $24.1 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense under our equity compensation plans, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.4 years. Stock Options Stock options generally vest over four years and have a contractual term of seven to ten years from the date of grant. Our stock option activity was as follows: Weighted Average Options Exercise Price (#) ($/share) Outstanding at December 31, 2017 2,194,662 23.80 Granted 362,944 29.94 Exercised (688,668 ) 20.83 Forfeited (122,470 ) 28.34 Outstanding at December 31, 2018 1,746,468 25.93 Granted 184,434 53.92 Exercised (346,098 ) 21.98 Forfeited (40,892 ) 30.74 Outstanding at December 31, 2019 1,543,912 30.03 Granted 127,974 59.02 Exercised (712,074 ) 26.11 Forfeited (14,926 ) 43.14 Outstanding at December 31, 2020 944,886 36.71 Of the total outstanding options at December 31, 2020, 0.7 million The table below presents the intrinsic value of options exercised and outstanding and factors related to our stock options: Year Ended December 31, (in thousands, except per share data) 2020 2019 2018 Fair value of options vested $ 3,000 $ 3,393 $ 3,689 Intrinsic value of options exercised 31,737 11,103 14,852 Intrinsic value of options outstanding 67,918 39,194 26,654 Weighted-average fair value per share of options granted 16.18 16.86 9.74 The fair values of the options granted were estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions: Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Volatility 33 % 33 % 35 % Dividend yield — — — Life (in years) 4.01 4.43 4.44 Risk-free interest rate 0.99 % 2.41 % 2.54 % Performance Share Units, Restricted Stock Units and Awards, and Deferred Stock Units In February 2020, 2019, and 2018, our executive officers were granted PSU awards with vesting contingent on our total shareholder return as compared to indexed total shareholder return over the course of a fiscal based three-year In February 2017, our executive officers were granted PSU awards with vesting contingent on successful attainment of pre-determined revenue targets over the course of a three-year RSUs generally vest over four years and, upon vesting, the holder is entitled to receive shares of our common stock. RSAs vest over one year and, upon vesting, the holder is entitled to receive shares of our common stock. In lieu of RSAs, a participant may elect to receive DSUs with one year vesting, but the participant directs delayed receipt of common shares of up to ten years after the end of service to us. Activity for our PSU, RSU, RSA, and DSU was as follows: Weighted Average Grant Date Fair (#) Value (per share) Outstanding at December 31, 2017 646,560 27.59 Granted 360,198 33.19 Vested and common stock issued (176,802 ) 28.74 Forfeited (71,622 ) 27.52 Outstanding at December 31, 2018 758,334 29.99 Granted 288,462 55.69 Vested and common stock issued (217,424 ) 31.05 Forfeited (31,826 ) 34.67 Outstanding at December 31, 2019 797,546 38.80 Granted 331,264 62.78 Vested and common stock issued (222,606 ) 36.06 Forfeited (167,782 ) 30.09 Outstanding at December 31, 2020 738,422 52.37 The number of PSUs, RSUs, and DSUs outstanding at December 31, 2020 included 122,910 units that have vested, but the shares of common stock have not yet been issued, pursuant to the terms of the agreement. Employee Stock Purchase Plan Our ESPP allows participating employees to purchase shares of our common stock at a discount through payroll deductions. The plan is available to all employees subject to certain eligibility requirements. Participating employees may purchase common stock, on a voluntary after-tax basis, at a price that is the lower of 85% of the fair market value of one share of common stock at the beginning or end of each stock purchase period. The plan consists of two six-month offering periods, beginning on January 1 and July 1 of each calendar year. A total of 1.9 shares of common stock are remaining for issuance under the plan at December 31, 2020. Our ESPP activity was as follows: Year Ended December 31, (in thousands, except share data) 2020 2019 2018 Amounts for shares purchased $ 3,374 $ 2,270 $ 1,745 Shares purchased 61,833 58,851 69,596 The fair value was estimated based on the market price of our common stock at the beginning of each offering period and using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions: Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Volatility 43 % 36 % 26 % Dividend yield — — — Life (in years) 0.50 0.50 0.50 Risk-free interest rate 0.96 % 2.36 % 1.77 % |