Stock-Based Compensation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

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

Stock Based Compensation [Text Block]

5. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Our stock-based compensation plans are designed to promote stock ownership in NW Natural by employees and officers. These compensation plans include a Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP), an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), and a Restated Stock Option Plan. For additional information on our stock-based compensation plans, see Note 6 in the 2016 Form 10-K and the updates provided below.

Long Term Incentive Plan

Performance Shares

LTIP performance shares incorporate a combination of market, performance, and service-based factors. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, 29,380 performance-based shares were granted under the LTIP based on target-level awards with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $57.05 per share. Award share payouts range from a threshold of 0% to a maximum of 200% based on achievement of EPS and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) factors, which can be modified by a total shareholder return factor (TSR factor) relative to the performance of the Russell 2500 Utilities Index over the three-year performance period and a growth modifier based on a cumulative EBITDA measure. As of March 31, 2017, there was $3.1 million of unrecognized compensation cost from LTIP grants, which is expected to be recognized through 2019. Fair value for the shares granted during the three months ended March 31, 2017, was estimated as of the date of grant using a Monte-Carlo option pricing model based on the following assumptions:

Stock price on valuation date	$	59.90
Performance term (in years)	3.0
Quarterly dividends paid per share(1)	$	0.4700
Expected dividend yield	3.09		%
Dividend discount factor	0.9156

⁽¹⁾   In addition to common stock shares, a participant also receives a dividend equivalent cash payment equal to the number of shares of common stock received on the award payout multiplied by the aggregate cash dividends paid per share during the performance period.

Restricted Stock Units

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, 18,020 RSUs were granted under the LTIP with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $59.90 per share. Generally, the RSUs awarded are forfeitable and include a performance-based threshold as well as a vesting period of four years from the grant date. A RSU obligates us, upon vesting, to issue the RSU holder one share of common stock plus a cash payment equal to the total amount of dividends paid per share between the grant date and vesting date of that portion of the RSU. The fair value of a RSU is equal to the closing market price of our common stock on the grant date. As of March 31, 2017, there was $3.1 million of unrecognized compensation cost from grants of RSUs, which is expected to be recognized over a period extending through 2022.