Stock-Based Compensation Plans

3 Months Ended

Jan. 29, 2021

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]


12			Stock-Based Compensation Plans

Compensation costs related to stock-based compensation awards were as follows:


	Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands)	January 29, 2021		January 31, 2020
Stock option awards	$	2,058	$	1,777
Performance share awards	827		548
Restricted stock unit awards	960		942
Unrestricted common stock awards	671		693
Total compensation cost for stock-based compensation awards	$	4,516	$	3,960

Stock Option Awards

Under The Toro Company Amended and Restated 2010 Equity and Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (the "2010 plan"), stock options are granted with an exercise price equal to the closing price of the company’s common stock on the date of grant, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange. Options are generally granted to executive officers, other employees, and non-employee members of the company’s Board of Directors ("Board") on an annual basis in the first quarter of the company’s fiscal year. Compensation cost equal to the grant date fair value is generally recognized for these awards over the vesting period. Compensation cost recognized for other employees not considered executive officers and non-employee members of the company's Board is net of estimated forfeitures, which are determined at the time of grant based on historical forfeiture experience.

The fair value of each stock option is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes valuation method with the assumptions noted in the table below. The expected life is a significant assumption as it determines the period for which the risk-free interest rate, stock price volatility, and dividend yield must be applied. The expected life is the average length of time in which executive officers, other employees, and non-employee members of the company's Board are expected to exercise their stock options, which is primarily based on historical exercise experience. The company groups executive officers and non-employee members of the company's Board for valuation purposes based on similar historical exercise behavior. Expected stock price volatility is based on the daily movement of the company’s common stock over the most recent historical period

equivalent to the expected life of the option. The risk-free interest rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury rate over the expected life at the time of grant. The expected dividend yield is estimated over the expected life based on the company’s historical cash dividends paid, expected future cash dividends and dividend yield, and expected changes in the company’s stock price.

The table below illustrates the weighted-average valuation assumptions for options granted in the first three months of the following fiscal periods:


	Fiscal 2021	Fiscal 2020
Expected life of option in years	6.21	6.31
Expected stock price volatility	23.26%	19.38%
Risk-free interest rate	0.55%	1.79%
Expected dividend yield	0.86%	0.98%
Per share weighted-average fair value at date of grant	$19.38	$15.37

Performance Share Awards

Under the 2010 plan, the company grants performance share awards to executive officers and other employees under which they are entitled to receive shares of the company’s common stock contingent on the achievement of performance goals of the company, which are generally measured over a three-year period. The number of shares of common stock a participant receives can be increased (up to 200 percent of target levels) or reduced (down to zero) based on the level of achievement of performance goals and will vest at the end of a three-year period. Performance share awards are generally granted on an annual basis in the first quarter of the company’s fiscal year. Compensation cost is recognized for these awards on a straight-line basis over the vesting period based on the per share fair value, which is equal to the closing price of the company's common stock on the date of grant, and the probability of achieving each performance goal. The per share weighted-average fair value of performance share awards granted during the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and 2020 was $90.59 and $77.33, respectively.

Restricted Stock Unit Awards

Under the 2010 plan, restricted stock unit awards are generally granted to certain employees that are not executive officers. Occasionally, restricted stock unit awards may be granted, including to executive officers, in connection with hiring, mid-year promotions, leadership transition, or retention. Compensation cost equal to the grant date fair value, net of estimated forfeitures, is recognized for these awards over the vesting period. The grant date fair value is equal to the closing price of the company's common stock on the date of grant multiplied by the number of shares subject to the restricted stock unit awards and estimated forfeitures are determined on the grant date based on historical forfeiture experience. The per share weighted-average fair value of restricted stock unit awards granted during the first three months of fiscal 2021 and 2020 was $91.51 and $77.08, respectively.

Unrestricted Common Stock Awards

During the first three months of fiscal 2021 and 2020, 8,070 and 8,920 shares, respectively, of fully vested unrestricted common stock awards were granted to certain members of the company's Board as a component of their compensation for their service on the Board and were recorded within selling, general and administrative expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings.