Note F - Stock-based Compensation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2024

Notes to Financial Statements

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Text Block]

F.   STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION: 

The Company, from time to time, enters into separate non-vested share-based payment arrangements with employees and executive officers under the Incentive Compensation Plan approved by stockholders on May 18, 2010 and the 2017 Incentive Compensation Plan approved by shareholders on May 16, 2017, which authorized 50,000 and 150,000 shares, respectively, to be available for grants.  The 2017 plan replaced the original 2010 plan, and the shares remaining under the 2010 plan are no longer available for grant.  The Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors approves all stock-based compensation awards for employees and executive officers of the Company.  The Company grants restricted stock that is subject to continued employment and vesting conditions, but has dividend and voting rights, and uses the fair-market value of the Company’s common stock on the grant date to measure the fair value of the awards.  The fair value of restricted stock is recognized as expense ratably over the requisite service period, net of estimated forfeitures.

During 2024, 2023, and 2022, the Company granted 4,228 shares, 1,487 shares, and 7,271 shares of restricted stock, respectively, to 31 employees and executive officers of the Company.  Unless otherwise vested early in accordance with the Incentive Compensation Plans, the restricted stock vests on specified dates in 2025 through 2029, subject to the recipients’ continued employment or service through each applicable vesting date. 

The Company recognized pre-tax compensation expense in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income related to stock-based compensation of $575,000, $512,000, and $476,000 in 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, there was approximately $958,000 of unrecognized compensation cost related to the restricted stock awards that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.9 years.  There were 3,234, 4,109, and 3,482 shares of restricted stock that vested during 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively.

The following table summarizes the activity for non-vested restricted stock: 

	2024					2023					2022
	Shares			Weighted Average Fair Value at Grant Date		Shares			Weighted Average Fair Value at Grant Date		Shares			Weighted Average Fair Value at Grant Date
Non-vested at beginning of period		29,671		$	88.37		32,336		$	89.49		28,934		$	95.54
Granted		4,228			78.78		1,487			77.03		7,271			70.72
Vested		(3,234	)		121.11		(4,109	)		68.46		(3,482	)		100.05
Forfeited		0			-		(43	)		93.29		(387	)		93.91
Non-vested at end of period		30,665		$	83.60		29,671		$	88.37		32,336		$	89.49