Stock-Based Compensation Plans

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Stock-Based Compensation Plans [Abstract]

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

(7) Stock-Based Compensation Plans

At September 30, 2012, the Company had two stock option plans, a restricted stock plan and an employee stock purchase plan.  Readers should refer to Note 5 of our consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the calendar year ended December 31, 2011, for additional information related to these stock-based compensation plans.

The Company recognized compensation expense for share-based payments of $3,811,242 and $10,770,822 for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively.  Compensation cost capitalized as part of inventory as of September 30, 2012, was $159,359.

Employee Stock Option Plan

The fair value of each option grant in the Employee Stock Option Plan was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions for the indicated periods:

(7) Stock-Based Compensation Plans (continued)

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2012		2011
Dividend Yield (1)		2.67%		2.65%		2.64%		2.69%
Expected volatility (2)		46.91%		42.21%		45.17%		41.13%
Risk-free interest rate (3)		0.64%		0.98%		0.79%		1.61%
Expected term of options (years) (4)		4.05		4.05		4.04		4.05
Weighted-avg. grant date fair value	$	5.23	$	7.10	$	6.09	$	7.82

(1) Represents the Company’s estimated cash dividend yield over the expected term of option grant.

(2) Amount is determined based on analysis of historical price volatility of the Company’s common stock. The expected volatility is based on the daily percentage change in the price of the stock over a period equal to the expected term of the option grant.

(3) Represents the U.S. Treasury yield over the expected term of the option grant.

(4) Represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding.  Based on analysis of historical option exercise activity, the Company has determined that all employee groups exhibit similar exercise and post-vesting termination behavior.

Under the plan, the option exercise price equals the stock’s market price on date of grant.  The options vest after one to five years, and expire after three to seven years.

As of September 30, 2012, there was $21,638,194 of unrecognized compensation cost related to share-based payments which is expected to be recognized over the vesting periods.

Non-employee Director Stock Option Plan

In May 2012, the 2012 Amended and Restated Nonemployee Director Stock Option Plan, covering a total of 500,000 shares of common stock, was approved by shareholders replacing a prior plan.  The Company has granted options on 42,000 shares under the new director plan through September 30, 2012.  As of September 30, 2012, there was $85,680 of unrecognized compensation cost under the director plans related to share-based payments.  Under the shareholder approved plans, the option exercise price equals the stock’s market price on date of grant.  The options vest after six months, and expire after ten years.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The Company has an Employee Stock Purchase Plan covering 1,200,000 shares that was approved by the shareholders, replacing a prior plan.  Under the plan, the Company sells shares at 85% of the stock’s market price at date of purchase.  Under ASC 718, the 15% discounted value is recognized as compensation expense.  

Restricted Stock Plan

The Company has a Restricted Stock Plan covering 2,000,000 shares of common stock that was approved by the shareholders.  The purpose of the plan is to permit grants of shares, subject to restrictions, to key employees of the Company as a means of retaining and rewarding them for long-term performance and to increase their ownership in the Company.  Shares awarded under the plan entitle the shareholder to all rights of common stock ownership except that the shares may not be sold, transferred, pledged, exchanged or otherwise disposed of during the restriction period. 

(7) Stock-Based Compensation Plans (continued)

The restriction period is determined by the Compensation Committee, appointed by the Board of Directors, but may not exceed ten years under the terms of the plan.  As of September 30, 2012, the Company had unearned stock-based compensation of $8,075,014 associated with these restricted stock grants.  The unearned stock-based compensation related to these grants is being amortized to compensation expense over the applicable restriction periods. 

Amortization expense from restricted stock grants in the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2012,  was $559,046 and $1,591,171, respectively.