Note 7 - Share-based Compensation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2022

Notes to Financial Statements

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Text Block]

(7) Share-Based Compensation

Share-based compensation is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as an expense over the requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity grant).

The Company issues share-based awards through several plans that are described in detail in the notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021.  The compensation cost charged against income for those plans is included in selling, general & administrative expenses as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
Share-based compensation related to:	2022		2021
Common stock grants	$	100	$	100
Stock option grants		53		53
Restricted Stock Unit Awards ("RSUs")		539		348
Total share-based compensation	$	692	$	501

The total income tax benefit recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of income for share-based compensa‐tion arrangements was approximately $381 thousand and $242 thousand for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Common stock grants

The compensation expense for common stock granted during the three-month period ended March 31, 2022, was determined based on the market price of the shares on the date of grant.

Stock Option grants

The following is a summary of stock option activity under all plans for the three-month period ended March 31, 2022:

	Shares Under Options		Weighted Average Exercise Price (per share)		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years)		Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)
Outstanding at December 31, 2021		98,671	$	33.53
Granted		-
Exercised		-
Outstanding at March 31, 2022		98,671	$	33.53		5.57	$	3,221
Exercisable at March 31, 2022		87,955	$	30.63		5.12	$	3,126
Vested and expected to vest at March 31, 2022		98,671	$	33.53	$	5.57	$	3,221

During both three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, there were no options exercised. At its discretion, the Company allows option holders to surrender previously owned common stock in lieu of paying the exercise price and withholding taxes.  During both the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, no shares were surrendered for this purpose.

Restricted Stock Unit awards

The following table summarizes information about RSU activity during the three-month period ended March 31, 2021:

	Restricted Stock Units			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2021		101,168		$	41.78
Awarded		48,099			74.75
Shares vested		(45,785	)		39.75
Shares forfeited		(21	)		74.75
Outstanding at March 31, 2022		103,461		$	49.19

At the Company’s discretion, upon vesting, RSU holders are given the option to net-share settle to cover the required minimum withholding tax and the remaining amount is converted into the equivalent number of common shares and issued to the RSU holder.  During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, 19,376 and 14,074 shares were surrendered at an average market price of $67.02 and $52.46, respectively.

As of March 31, 2022, the Company had approximately $4.8 million of unrecognized compensation expense that is expected to be recognized over a period of 3 years.