Note 5 - Stock-based Compensation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

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

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

5. Stock-Based Compensation

We account for share-based awards in accordance with ASC 718 which requires that the cost resulting from all share-based payment transactions be recognized in the financial statements. ASC 718 requires all entities to apply a fair value-based measurement method in accounting for share-based payment transactions with employees except for equity instruments held by employee share ownership plans.

Total compensation expense recognized related to stock-based compensation was $2.7 million and $2.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. As of March 31, 2015, total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense was $11.6 million, with a weighted average period over which the remaining unrecognized compensation expense is expected to be recorded of approximately 1.9 years.