Stock Compensation

6 Months Ended

Jul. 14, 2018

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]

Note G – Stock Compensation

The fair value of stock-based compensation is recognized in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC 718, Stock Compensation.

During the six months ended July 14, 2018 and pursuant to the 2017 Incentive Plan, in lieu of cash payments of director fees, the Company awarded to certain directors 11,530 shares of common stock. During the six months ended July 14, 2018, the Company awarded 14,250 restricted stock units to directors and 40,278 restricted stock units to employees. The restricted stock units awarded to directors time vest over two years (one-half one year from grant date and one-half two years from grant date) provided that the director is still a director of the Company at the vest date. Director restricted stock units are subject to forfeiture, except for termination of services as a result of retirement, death or disability, if on the vesting date the director no longer holds a position with the Company. The 2018 restricted stock units awarded to employees fully vest over four years (one-third two years from grant date, one-third three years from grant date and one-third four years from grant date) provided that the employee is still employed by the Company on each applicable vesting date and that the performance criteria related to the market price of the Company’s stock is satisfied. The performance criteria is for any 30 consecutive trading days on the NASDAQ Stock Market (or such other principal securities exchange on which the Company’s shares of common stock are then traded) during the period beginning on the grant date and ending on the fourth anniversary thereof, the cumulative average Volume Weighted Average Price per share is at least 15% higher than the closing price per share on the grant date plus any incremental dividends paid above the current quarterly dividend rate of $0.125 per share by the Company during such four year period. If the performance criteria is not satisfied as of an applicable vesting date, then one-half of the RSUs eligible to vest on that date will vest and the remaining one-half will vest if, and only if, the performance criteria is met prior to the end of the four year vesting period. The Company utilizes the Monte Carlo technique to determine the fair value of restricted stock units granted for awards with market conditions.

For the three and six months ended July 14, 2018, including expense associated with issuing certain directors stock in lieu of cash for certain director fees, the Company recognized stock based compensation expense of $374 thousand and $535 thousand, respectively compared to stock based compensation expense of $326 thousand and $440 thousand for the same periods in the prior year. At July 14, 2018 and July 15, 2017, respectively, there was $0.8 million and $0.8 million in unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to non-vested stock awards.