Stock-Based Compensation | Stock-Based Compensation Total stock-based compensation expense by type of award was as follows for the years ended December 31: In Thousands 2023 2022 2021 Restricted Stock Units $ 20,738 $ 9,054 $ 1,889 Stock grants 1,018 724 489 Stock options 21 289 435 Stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) 23,438 7,319 22,188 Restricted Stock Awards 986 1,005 1,005 Total stock-based compensation expense $ 46,201 $ 18,391 $ 26,006 In 2020, the Board of Directors adopted a new incentive plan called the Encore Wire 2020 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “2020 LTIP”) which was approved by the Company’s stockholders at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The 2020 LTIP permits the granting of 1,000,000 securities in the form of options to purchase shares of common stock, stock appreciation rights, restricted common stock, restricted stock units, unrestricted common stock, dividend equivalents, cash awards, or performance awards to non-employee directors, officers and employees of the Company. As of December 31, 2023, 463,550 securities remained available for grant under the 2020 LTIP. Restricted Stock Units: Restricted units granted to employees vest ratably over a period of three years from the time the restricted units were granted. During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 the Company granted 236,800 units, 177,200 units, and 98,600 units respectively, of restricted stock to employees pursuant to the 2020 Long Term Incentive Plan, with weighted grant date fair values of $149.62, $127.58, and $61.92 per unit, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, there was $32.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested units. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.8 years. The following presents a summary of restricted stock activity for the year ended December 31, 2023: Weighted Average Number of Units Grant Date Fair Value Outstanding at January 1, 2023 241,436 $ 109.69 Granted 236,800 149.62 Vested (91,432) 103.97 Forfeited/Canceled — — Unvested at December 31, 2023 386,804 $ 135.49 Stock Grants: In May 2023, the Company granted 1,250 shares of stock to each of the 5 non-employee directors, with a grant date fair value of $162.93 per share. In May 2022, the Company granted 1,250 shares of stock to 4 non-employee directors with a grant date fair value of $123.45 per share. In September 2022, the Company granted 850 shares of stock to 1 non-employee director with a grant date fair value of $125.37 per share. In May 2021, the Company granted 1,250 shares of stock to each of the 5 non-employee directors, with a grant date fair value of $78.29 per share. Stock Options: No stock option awards were granted in 2023, 2022 or 2021. Options vest ratably over a period of five years from the time the options were granted. The maximum term of any option previously granted under the 2010 Stock Option Plan or granted in the future under the 2020 LTIP is ten years. New shares are issued upon the exercise of options. The following presents a summary of stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2023: Number Weighted Weighted Aggregate Outstanding at January 1, 2023 275,500 $ 43.06 Exercised (22,000) 42.53 Forfeited/Canceled — — Outstanding at December 31, 2023 253,500 $ 43.10 2.7 years $ 43,222 Vested and exercisable at December 31, 2023 253,500 $ 43.10 2.7 years $ 43,222 During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the total intrinsic value of options exercised was $2.9 million, $0.2 million and $3.1 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options. Stock Appreciation Rights: In 2014, the Board of Directors adopted a new stock appreciation rights plan called the Encore Wire 2014 Stock Appreciation Rights Plan (the “2014 SARs Plan”). The 2014 SARs Plan permits the grant of SARs that may only be settled in cash to non-executive officers and employees of the Company. SARs granted to employees vest ratably over a period of five years from the time the SARs were granted. The maximum term of any SARs granted under the 2014 SARs Plan is ten years. These awards are classified as liability awards. The liability balances were $22.2 million and $20.3 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and are included in accrued liabilities. Compensation cost for these awards is determined using a fair value method and remeasured at each reporting date until the date of settlement. As of December 31, 2023, a total of 172,008 SARs were outstanding under the 2014 SARs Plan. No SARs were granted subsequent to 2020 as this plan was replaced with a long-term deferred cash compensation plan. The following presents a summary of SARs activity for the year ended December 31, 2023: Cash-settled SARs Weighted Weighted Aggregate Outstanding at January 1, 2023 332,164 $ 54.18 Exercised (153,556) 52.82 Forfeited/Canceled (6,600) 56.47 Outstanding at December 31, 2023 172,008 $ 55.31 5.4 years $ 27,228 Vested and exercisable at December 31, 2023 69,608 $ 53.51 5.0 years $ 11,143 The fair value of SARs outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, are revalued each quarter using a Black-Scholes option pricing model and the following weighted average assumptions: Year Ended December 31, 2023 2022 2021 Risk-free interest rate 5.17 % 4.46 % 0.70 % Expected dividend yield 0.04 % 0.06 % 0.06 % Expected volatility 32.60 % 44.03 % 38.64 % Expected lives 0.6 years 1.3 years 2.1 years The Company bases expected volatilities on historical volatilities of Encore's common stock. The expected life represents the weighted average period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding giving consideration to vesting periods and management’s consideration of historical exercise patterns. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for periods corresponding to the expected life of the option. The expected dividend yield is based on the annualized dividend payment paid on common shares. During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the weighted average fair value of SARs was $159.92, $87.20 and $90.04, respectively, and the total intrinsic value of SARs exercised was $21.5 million, $9.1 million and $5.4 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested SARs of $5.3 million was expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.0 years. Restricted Stock Awards: Restricted shares granted to employees vest ratably over a period of five years from the time the restricted shares were granted. No restricted shares were granted subsequent to 2020. As of December 31, 2023, there was $0.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested shares. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 0.8 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the year ending December 31, 2023 was $4.4 million. The following presents a summary of restricted stock activity for the year ended December 31, 2023: Weighted Average Number of Shares Grant Date Fair Value Outstanding at January 1, 2023 41,000 $ 57.00 Granted — — Vested (26,000) 56.60 Unvested at December 31, 2023 15,000 $ 57.69 |