Note 3 - Share-based Compensation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Notes to Financial Statements

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

3. Share-based Compensation

The following table summarizes the components of our share-based compensation program expense (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
Restricted share units:
Pretax compensation expense	$	5,390	$	4,668	$	22,298	$	20,372
Tax benefit		2,048		1,778		8,473		7,762
Restricted share unit expense, net of tax	$	3,342	$	2,890	$	13,825	$	12,610
Performance share units:
Pretax compensation expense	$	1,868	$	1,645	$	7,875	$	6,638
Tax benefit		710		627		2,992		2,529
Performance share unit expense, net of tax	$	1,158	$	1,018	$	4,883	$	4,109

As of September 30, 2016, we had $44.0 million and $11.5 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to restricted share units and performance share units, respectively, that is to be recognized over the remaining weighted average period of approximately 3.8 years for restricted share units and 2.5 years for performance share units. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we issued 519,849 shares for vested restricted share units, 148,733 shares for vested performance share units, and 2,000 shares as a result of stock option exercises. Of these totals, 485,749 shares for vested restricted share units and 148,733 for performance share units were issued during the third quarter, 2016.