STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

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

Summary Of Employee Stock-Based Compensation Expense

Stock-based compensation expense - all related to employees - recognized under the authoritative guidance was as follows:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2014		2013		2012
	(In thousands)
Selling, general and administrative	$	14,459	$	9,948	$	8,646
Research and development	481		355		335
Cost of goods sold	165		90		70
Total stock-based compensation expense	15,105		10,393		9,051
Total estimated tax benefit related to stock-based compensation expense	5,578		4,018		3,532
Net effect on net income	$	9,527	$	6,375	$	5,519

Summary Of Weighted-Average Assumptions

The following weighted-average assumptions were used in the calculation of fair value:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2014	2013	2012
Dividend yield	0%	0%	0%
Expected volatility	29%	31%	30%
Risk free interest rate	2.41%	1.52%	1.33%
Expected life of option from grant date	8 years	8 years	8 years

Summary Of Stock Option Activity

The following table summarizes the Company’s stock option activity:

			Weighted Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Contractual Term in Years	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
	Shares
Stock Options	(In thousands)					(In thousands)
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	1,639		$	37.64
Granted	81		47.25
Exercised	(458	)	32.63
Forfeited or Expired	(24	)	49.17
Outstanding at December 31, 2014	1,238		$	39.89	3.4 years	$	17,759
Vested or expected to vest at December 31, 2014	1,238		$	39.89	3.4 years	$	17,759
Exercisable at December 31, 2014	1,136		$	39.45	3.1 years	$	16,779

Summary Of Vested And Unvested RSU

The following table summarizes the Company’s awards of restricted stock, performance stock and contract stock for the year ended December 31, 2014:

					Performance Stock and Contract Stock Awards
	Restricted Stock Awards
	Shares		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share		Shares		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share
	(In thousands)				(In thousands)
Unvested, December 31, 2013	321		$	37.29	264		$	32.74
Granted	239		46.16		26		46.41
Cancellations	(48	)	42.20		(4	)	43.07
Released	(204	)	39.80		(3	)	35.48
Unvested, December 31, 2014	308		$	43.29	283		$	34.43