Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Stock-Based Compensation

v2.4.0.6
Stock-Based Compensation
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]  
Stock-Based Compensation
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The Company’s Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) allows for grants of incentive stock options, non-statutory stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards. The majority of all stock option and restricted stock unit grants outstanding under the Plan were granted in the first quarter of each fiscal year.
Stock-based compensation expense consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2013
 
2012
Stock options
 
$
827

 
$
908

Restricted stock units
 
1,123

 
1,204

Total
 
$
1,950

 
$
2,112


Stock Options
The Company estimates the fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes model. Key inputs and assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options include the exercise price of the award, the expected option term, the expected volatility of the Company’s stock over the option’s expected term, the risk-free interest rate applicable to the option’s expected term, and the Company’s estimated annual dividend yield.
The following table presents the weighted average assumptions for stock options granted in the period:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2013
 
2012
Expected term
4.49 years
 
4.51 years
Expected stock price volatility
31.02%
 
32.44%
Risk-free interest rate
0.61%
 
0.87%
Expected dividend yield
1.65%
 
1.80%
Weighted average grant date fair value
$11.91
 
$11.44

During the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company granted a total of 298,805 and 323,615 stock options, respectively. At March 31, 2013, unrecognized costs related to outstanding stock options totaled approximately $7,588,000, before any related tax benefit. The unrecognized costs related to stock options are amortized over the related vesting period using the straight-line attribution method. Unrecognized costs related to stock options at March 31, 2013 are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.84 years.
Restricted Stock Units
The Company estimates the fair value of service-based and performance-based restricted stock units using the Black-Scholes model. Key inputs and assumptions used to estimate the fair value of restricted stock units include the vesting period, dividend yield and closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.
 
The following table presents the weighted average assumptions for restricted stock units granted in the period:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2013
 
2012
Vesting period
4.00 years
 
3.90 years
Expected dividend yield
1.61%
 
1.79%
Estimated average grant date fair value per restricted stock unit
$51.22
 
$45.90

During the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company granted 128,989 and 149,691 restricted stock units, respectively. At March 31, 2013, unrecognized costs related to outstanding restricted stock units totaled approximately $13,712,000, before any related tax benefit. The unrecognized costs related to restricted stock units are being amortized over the related vesting period using the straight-line attribution method. These unrecognized costs at March 31, 2013 are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.91 years.