STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

WESCO’s stock-based employee compensation plans are comprised of stock-settled stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units and performance-based awards. Compensation cost for all stock-based awards is measured at fair value on the date of grant and compensation cost is recognized, net of estimated forfeitures, over the service period for awards expected to vest. The fair value of stock-settled stock appreciation rights is determined using the Black-Scholes model. The fair value of restricted stock units and performance-based awards with performance conditions is determined by the grant-date closing price of WESCO’s common stock. The forfeiture assumption is based on WESCO’s historical employee behavior that is reviewed on an annual basis. No dividends are assumed. For stock-settled stock appreciation rights that are exercised and for restricted stock units and performance-based awards that vest, shares are issued out of WESCO's outstanding common stock.

Stock-settled stock appreciation rights vest ratably over a three-year period and terminate on the tenth anniversary of the grant date unless terminated sooner under certain conditions. Restricted stock unit awards granted in February 2020 and prior vest based on a minimum time period of three years. The special award described below vests in tranches. Restricted stock units awarded in 2021 vest ratably over a three-year period on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date. Vesting of performance-based awards is based on a three-year performance period, and the number of shares earned, if any, depends on the attainment of certain performance levels. Outstanding awards would vest upon the consummation of a change in control transaction and performance-based awards would vest at the target level.

On July 2, 2020, a special award of restricted stock units was granted to certain officers of the Company. These awards vest in tranches of 30% on each of the first and second anniversaries of the grant date and 40% on the third anniversary of the grant date, subject, in each case, to continued employment through the applicable anniversary date.

Performance-based awards granted in 2021, 2020 and 2019 were based on two equally-weighted performance measures: the three-year average growth rate of WESCO's net income and the three-year cumulative return on net assets.

During the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, WESCO granted the following stock-settled stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units and performance-based awards at the following weighted-average fair values:


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2021		March 31, 2020
Stock-settled stock appreciation rights granted	136,194		262,091
Weighted-average fair value	$	33.05	$	13.86

Restricted stock units granted	300,722		211,450
Weighted-average fair value	$	76.89	$	48.32

Performance-based awards granted	119,792		158,756
Weighted-average fair value	$	76.50	$	48.67

The fair value of stock-settled stock appreciation rights was estimated using the following weighted-average assumptions:


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2021		March 31, 2020
Risk free interest rate	0.8	%	1.4	%
Expected life (in years)	7		5
Expected volatility	41	%	30	%

The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury Daily Yield Curve as of the grant date. The expected life is based on historical exercise experience and the expected volatility is based on the volatility of the Company's daily stock price over the expected life preceding the grant date of the award.

The following table sets forth a summary of stock-settled stock appreciation rights and related information for the three months ended March 31, 2021:


	Awards	Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (In years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value (In thousands)
Outstanding at December 31, 2020	2,161,556	$	60.48
Granted	136,194	76.80
Exercised	(186,055)	60.92
Forfeited	(12,719)	52.57
Outstanding at March 31, 2021	2,098,976	61.55		5.9	$	52,427
Exercisable at March 31, 2021	1,729,195	$	61.89	5.2	$	42,612

The following table sets forth a summary of time-based restricted stock units and related information for the three months ended March 31, 2021:


	Awards	Weighted- Average Fair Value
Unvested at December 31, 2020	921,495	$	43.15
Granted	300,722	76.89
Vested	(90,178)	60.66
Forfeited	(16,129)	54.57
Unvested at March 31, 2021	1,115,910	$	50.66

The following table sets forth a summary of performance-based awards for the three months ended March 31, 2021:


	Awards	Weighted- Average Fair Value
Unvested at December 31, 2020	305,269	$	52.61
Granted	119,792	76.50
Vested	(22,371)	62.80
Forfeited	(27,802)	59.87
Unvested at March 31, 2021	374,888	$	59.13

Vesting of the 374,888 shares of performance-based awards in the table above is dependent upon the achievement of certain performance targets, including 187,444 that are dependent upon the three-year average growth rate of WESCO's net income and 187,444 that are based upon the three-year cumulative return on net assets. These awards are accounted for as awards with performance conditions; compensation cost is recognized over the performance period based upon WESCO's determination of whether it is probable that the performance targets will be achieved.

WESCO recognized $6.0 million and $4.6 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses, for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. As of March 31, 2021, there was $62.3 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested stock-based compensation arrangements for all awards previously made of which approximately $22.1 million is expected to be recognized over the remainder of 2021, $23.8 million in 2022, $15.1 million in 2023 and $1.3 million in 2024.