STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION [Abstract]

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

6.STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with fair value recognition provisions.  The Company recorded compensation expense of $0.2 million and $0.1 million for the third quarters ended September 30, 2012 and September 25, 2011, respectively, for its stock-based compensation plans on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.  For the comparable nine months periods, the Company recorded compensation expense of $0.6 million and $0.2 million, respectively.

The Company estimates the fair value of (i) all stock grants as of the grant date using the closing price per share of the Company's common stock on such date, and (ii) all stock option awards as of the grant date by applying the Black-Scholes option pricing model.  The Board of Directors approved the following share grants in 2011 and 2012: 140,000 shares on March 1, 2011, 21,000 shares on May 26, 2011, 3,500 shares on August 18, 2011, 15,000 shares on February 16, 2012, 122,800 shares on March 12, 2012 and 24,500 shares on May 24, 2012.

As of September 30, 2012, there was approximately $1.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to stock-based compensation arrangements granted under incentive plans.  That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 17.1 months.