Stock Options and Other Share-Based Compensation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Stock Options and Other Share-Based Compensation

Compensation expense for stock options for 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $94 ($74 after tax), $81 ($64 after tax) and $105 ($83 after tax), respectively. In addition, compensation expense for stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, performance shares and restricted stock units was $96 ($76 after tax), $313 ($266 after tax) and $60 ($47 after tax) for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. No significant stock-based compensation cost was capitalized at December 31, 2020, or December 31, 2019.

Cash received in payment for option exercises under all share-based payment arrangements for 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $226, $1,090 and $1,159, respectively. Actual tax benefits realized for the tax deductions from option exercises were $8, $43 and $43 for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Cash paid to settle performance shares, restricted stock units and stock appreciation rights was $95, $119 and $157 for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Cash paid in 2020 included $11 million for Noble awards paid under change-in-control plan provisions.

Awards under the Chevron Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) may take the form of, but are not limited to, stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance shares and nonstock grants. From April 2004 through May 2023, no more than 260 million shares may be issued under the LTIP. For awards issued on or after May 29, 2013, no more than 50 million of those shares may be in a form other than a stock option, stock appreciation right or award requiring full payment for shares by the award recipient. For the major types of awards issued before January 1, 2017, the contractual terms vary between three years for the performance shares and restricted stock units, and 10 years for the stock options and stock appreciation rights. For awards issued after January 1, 2017, contractual terms vary between three years for the performance shares and special restricted stock units, five years for standard restricted stock units and 10 years for the stock options and stock appreciation rights. Forfeitures for performance shares, restricted stock units, and stock appreciation rights are recognized as they occur. Forfeitures for stock options are estimated using historical forfeiture data dating back to 1990.

Noble Share-Based Plans (Noble Plans) On the closing of the acquisition of Noble in October 2020, outstanding stock options granted under various Noble Plans were exchanged for fully vested Chevron options at a conversion rate of 0.1191 Chevron shares for each Noble share. These awards retained the same provision as the original Noble Plans. Awards issued may be exercised for up to 5 years after termination of employment, depending upon the termination type, or the original expiration date, whichever is earlier. Other awards issued under the Noble Plans included restricted stock, phantom stock units, and performance shares that retained the same provisions as the original Noble Plans. Upon termination of employment due to change-in-control, all unvested awards issued under the Noble Plans, including stock options, restricted stock, phantom stock units and performance shares become vested on the termination date.

Fair Value and Assumptions The fair market values of stock options and stock appreciation rights granted in 2020, 2019 and 2018 were measured on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, with the following weighted-average assumptions:


	Year ended December 31
	2020			2019			2018
Expected term in years1	6.6			6.6			6.5
Volatility2	20.8		%	20.5		%	21.2		%
Risk-free interest rate based on zero coupon U.S. treasury note	1.5		%	2.6		%	2.6		%
Dividend yield	4.0		%	3.8		%	3.8		%
Weighted-average fair value per option granted	$	13.00		$	15.82		$	18.18

1 Expected term is based on historical exercise and post-vesting cancellation data.

2 Volatility rate is based on historical stock prices over an appropriate period, generally equal to the expected term.

A summary of option activity, including Noble, during 2020 is presented below:


	Shares (Thousands)	Weighted-Average Exercise Price			Averaged Remaining Contractual Term (Years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at January 1, 2020	86,641		$	103.22
Granted	8,281		$	150.98
Exercised	(2,739)		$	78.92
Forfeited	(2,033)		$	110.72
Outstanding at December 31, 2020	90,150		$	108.17	4.11		$	23
Exercisable at December 31, 2020	80,860		$	107.65	3.59		$	23

The total intrinsic value (i.e., the difference between the exercise price and the market price) of options exercised during 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $92, $516 and $506, respectively. During this period, the company continued its practice of issuing treasury shares upon exercise of these awards.

As of December 31, 2020, there was $57 of total unrecognized before-tax compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the plan. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.7 years.

At January 1, 2020, the number of LTIP performance shares outstanding was equivalent to 4,386,784 shares. During 2020, 2,064,598 performance shares were granted, 676,282 shares vested with cash proceeds distributed to recipients and 1,340,303 shares were forfeited. At December 31, 2020, performance shares outstanding were 4,434,797. The fair value of the liability recorded for these instruments was $385, and was measured using the Monte Carlo simulation method.

At January 1, 2020, the number of restricted stock units outstanding was equivalent to 2,512,345 shares. During 2020, 1,253,337 restricted stock units were granted, 165,007 units vested with cash proceeds distributed to recipients and 296,742 units were forfeited. At December 31, 2020, restricted stock units outstanding were 3,303,933. The fair value of the liability recorded for the vested portion of these instruments was $197, valued at the stock price as of December 31, 2020. In addition, outstanding stock appreciation rights that were granted under LTIP totaled approximately 4.1 million equivalent shares as of December 31, 2020. The fair value of the liability recorded for the vested portion of these instruments was $34.