Stock-Based Compensation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Stock-Based Compensation

In July 2011, a Special Meeting of Stockholders of Heartland Express, Inc. was held, at which meeting the approval of the Heartland Express, Inc. 2011 Restricted Stock Award Plan (the "2011 Plan") was ratified. The 2011 Plan made available up to 0.9 million shares for the purpose of making restricted stock grants to our eligible officers and employees. There were no shares that were issued during the period 2011 to 2018 that remain unvested at September 30, 2021. Shares granted in 2019 through 2021 have various vesting terms that range from immediate to four years from the date of grant. Compensation expense associated with these awards is based on the market value of our stock on the grant date. Compensation expense associated with restricted stock awards is included in salaries, wages and benefits in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. There were no significant assumptions made in determining fair value. Compensation expense associated with restricted stock awards was $0.2 million and $1.0 million respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021. Compensation expense associated with restricted stock awards was $0.2 million and $1.5 million respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020. Unrecognized compensation expense was $0.2 million at September 30, 2021 which will be recognized over a weighted average period of 0.8 years.

In May 2021, at the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the approval of the Heartland Express, Inc. 2021 Restricted Stock Award Plan (the “2021 Plan”) was ratified. The 2021 Plan made available up to 0.6 million shares for the purpose of making restricted stock grants to our eligible employees, directors and consultants. No shares from the 2021 Plan have been granted as of September 30, 2021.

The following tables summarize our restricted stock award activity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.


	Three Months Ended September 30, 2021
	Number of Shares of Restricted Stock Awards (in thousands)	Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested at beginning of period	44.2	$	19.83
Granted	5.0	16.79
Vested	(21.5)	18.82
Forfeited	—	—
Outstanding (unvested) at end of period	27.7	$	20.07


	Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
	Number of Shares of Restricted Stock Awards (in thousands)	Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested at beginning of period	59.3	$	20.87
Granted	—	—
Vested	(21.1)	20.64
Forfeited	—	—
Outstanding (unvested) at end of period	38.2	$	20.99


	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021
	Number of Shares of Restricted Stock Awards (in thousands)	Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested at beginning of period	59.7	$	20.29
Granted	24.3	18.29
Vested	(56.3)	19.54
Forfeited	—	—
Outstanding (unvested) at end of period	27.7	$	20.07


	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
	Number of Shares of Restricted Stock Awards (in thousands)	Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested at beginning of period	52.1	$	20.55
Granted	60.2	20.84
Vested	(73.6)	20.59
Forfeited	(0.5)	19.32
Outstanding (unvested) at end of period	38.2	$	20.99