Stock-Based Compensation

3 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2024

Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]

Stock-Based Compensation

NOTE 4 – STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Our stock-based compensation was comprised of the following for the periods presented (in thousands):

		Quarter Ended
		November 30,		November 30,
		2024		2023
Long-term incentive awards	$	1,679	$	2,464
Strive acquisition compensation		185		195
Unvested stock awards		240		180
Employee stock purchase plan		63		58
	$	2,167	$	2,897

During the quarter ended November 30, 2024, we issued 362,867 shares of our common stock under various stock-based compensation arrangements, including our employee stock purchase plan (ESPP). Our stock-based compensation plans allow shares to be withheld from the award to pay the participants’ statutory income tax liabilities. We withheld 145,768 shares of our common stock, with a fair value of $6.0 million, for statutory income taxes during the first quarter of fiscal 2025.

Annual Long-Term Incentive Performance and Retention Plan

We have a long-term equity incentive plan for client partners, managing directors, and certain other associates that we believe are critical to our long-term success. The number of shares granted to sales-related roles is generally based on the achievement of specified annual revenue goals while other awards are for an amount determined by the Organization and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. These awards are granted after the completion of each fiscal year and vest over a three-year service period, with one-third of the shares vesting on August 31 of each year following the grant. The number of shares awarded does not fluctuate and does not have any future performance metrics, only a three-year time-based service period. We granted a total of 92,930 unvested share units in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 to participants under the terms of this long-term incentive plan. The compensation cost of these awards is included in the long-term incentive awards category in the preceding table.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

We have an ESPP that offers qualified employees the opportunity to purchase shares of our common stock at a price equal to 85% of the average fair market value of our common stock on the last trading day of each fiscal quarter. During the quarter ended November 30, 2024, we sold 9,403 shares of our common stock to participants in the ESPP.