STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2020

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Stock-based compensation is accounted for in accordance with ASC 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation,” which requires companies to estimate the fair value of share-based awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model.

During the second quarter of 2020, the Company's stockholders approved the 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "2020 LTIP") replacing the Company's Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan ("Long-Term Incentive Plan") for all periods commencing November 1, 2019 and thereafter. The 2020 LTIP provides key employees incentive compensation based upon consecutive and overlapping three-year performance periods that commence at the start of each fiscal year. Participants may be granted restricted stock units ("RSUs") or performance stock units ("PSUs") or a combination thereof.

Restricted Stock Units

The Company grants RSUs based on a three-year vesting period on the basis of service only. The RSUs are an equity-classified plan measured at fair value on the grant date recognized ratably over the service period. Dividend-equivalent rights may be granted in connection with an RSU award and are recognized in conjunction with the Company's dividend issuance and settled upon vesting of the award.

The Company granted 147,325 RSUs on February 25, 2020, for the service period commencing on November 1, 2019 and ending October 31, 2022. The weighted average fair value of the RSUs granted on that date was $37.42.

Performance Stock Units

The Company grants PSUs for a three-year performance period based upon service, performance criteria and market conditions. The performance criteria are based on targeted levels of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization and total shareholder return as determined by the Special Subcommittee of the Company's Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Special Subcommittee"). The PSUs are a liability-classified plan wherein the fair value of the PSUs awarded is determined at each reporting period using a Monte Carlo simulation. A Monte Carlo simulation uses assumptions including the risk-free interest rate, expected volatility of the Company’s stock price and expected life of the awards to determine a fair value of the market condition throughout the vesting period.

The Company accrued for the targeted performance awards, an expected total of 258,519 PSUs, on February 25, 2020, for the performance period commencing on November 1, 2019 and ending October 31, 2022. For the three months ended April 30, 2020, the Company recognized SG&A expense of $0.8 million related to the PSU's.