In January 2017, the NJR 2017 Stock Award and Incentive Plan replaced the NJR 2007 Stock Award and Incentive Plan. Shares have been issued in the form of performance share units, restricted stock units, deferred retention stock units and unrestricted common stock to non-employee directors. As of September 30, 2022, 2,918,487 shares remain available for future issuance.


(Thousands)	2022		2021		2020
Stock-based compensation expense:
Performance share awards	$	4,131	$	3,856	$	1,943
Restricted and non-restricted stock	3,189		3,193		2,868
Deferred retention stock	7,507		100		1,725
Compensation expense included in operation and maintenance expense	14,827		7,149		6,536
Income tax benefit (1)	(3,624)		(1,613)		(1,900)
Total, net of tax	$	11,203	$	5,536	$	4,636

(1)Excludes additional tax (expense) benefit related to delivered shares of $(144,000), $(159,000) and $647,000 as of September 30, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

In fiscal 2022, the Company granted to certain officers 44,965 performance shares, which are market condition awards that vest on September 30, 2024, subject to the Company meeting certain conditions. In fiscal 2022, the Company also granted to certain officers 73,561 performance shares, of which 44,596 vest on September 30, 2024 and 28,965 vest annually over a three-year period beginning in September 2022, both of which are subject to the Company meeting certain performance conditions.

In fiscal 2021, the Company granted to certain officers 46,813 performance shares, which are market condition awards that vest on September 30, 2023, subject to the Company meeting certain conditions. In fiscal 2021, the Company also granted to certain officers 70,138 performance shares, of which 44,156 vest on September 30, 2023 and 25,982 vest annually over a three-year period beginning in September 2021, both of which are subject to the Company meeting certain performance conditions.

In fiscal 2020, the Company granted to certain officers 33,123 performance shares, which are market condition awards that vested on September 30, 2022, subject to the Company meeting certain conditions. In fiscal 2020, the Company also granted to certain officers 48,941 performance shares, of which 30,473 vested in September 30, 2022 and 18,468 vest annually over a three-year period beginning in September 2020, both of which were subject to the Company meeting certain performance conditions. The vesting of these awards are shown in the table below.

There is approximately $4.4 million of deferred compensation related to unvested performance shares that is expected to be recognized over the weighted average period of 1.7 years.

The following table summarizes the performance share activity under the stock award and incentive plans for the past three fiscal years:


	Shares (1)	Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value		Total Fair Value of Vested Shares (in Thousands)
Non-vested and outstanding at September 30, 2019	130,509		$46.53		—
Granted	82,064		$40.61		—
Vested (2)	(55,025)		$44.27		$	2,083
Cancelled/forfeited	(1,817)		$44.38		—
Non-vested and outstanding at September 30, 2020	155,731		$44.22		—
Granted	116,951		$33.34		—
Vested (3)	(54,918)		$44.64		$	1,673
Cancelled/forfeited	(51,673)		$45.32		—
Non-vested and outstanding at September 30, 2021	166,091		$36.08		—
Granted	118,526		$38.84		—
Vested (4)	(76,708)		$39.57		$	2,765
Cancelled/forfeited	(15,788)		$37.33		—
Non-vested and outstanding at September 30, 2022	192,121		$36.29		—

(1)The number of common shares issued related to certain performance shares may range from zero to 150 percent of the number of shares shown in the table above based on the Company’s achievement of performance goals.

(2)As certified by the Company’s Leadership and Compensation Committee on November 9, 2020, there were no common shares earned related to TSR performance, the number of common shares earned related to NFE performance was 114 percent or 28,513 shares, and the number of common shares earned related to Performance Based Restricted Stock was 100 percent or 11,139 shares. Each award earned excludes accumulated dividends. The number represented on this line is the target number of 100 percent.

(3)As certified by the Company’s Leadership and Compensation Committee on November 10, 2021, there were no common shares earned related to TSR performance, the number of common shares earned related to NFE performance was 93 percent or 31,116 shares, and the number of common shares earned related to Performance Based Restricted Stock was 100 percent or 25,982 shares. Each award earned excludes accumulated dividends. The number represented on this line is the target number of 100 percent.

(4)As certified by the Company’s Leadership and Compensation Committee on November 9, 2022, the number of common shares earned related to TSR performance was 112 percent or 30,472 shares, the number of common shares earned related to NFE performance was 105 percent or 26,282 shares and the number of common shares earned related to Performance Based Restricted Stock was 100 percent or 28,965 shares. Each award earned excludes accumulated dividends. The number represented on this line is the target number of 100 percent.

The Company measures compensation expense related to performance shares based on the fair value of these awards at their date of grant. In accordance with ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, compensation expense for market condition grants are recognized for awards granted, and are not adjusted based on actual achievement of the performance goals. The Company estimated the fair value of these grants on the date of grant using a lattice model. Performance condition grants are initially fair valued at the Company’s stock price on grant date, and are subsequently adjusted for actual achievement of the performance goals.

The Company granted 54,826, 67,726 and 42,478 shares of restricted stock during fiscal 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The shares vest annually over a three-year period beginning in October of the fiscal year in which they were granted. There is approximately $1.0 million of deferred compensation related to unvested restricted stock shares that is expected to be recognized over the weighted average period of 1.8 years.

The following table summarizes the restricted stock activity under the stock award and incentive plans for the past three fiscal years:


	Shares	Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value		Total Fair Value of Vested Shares (in Thousands)
Non-vested and outstanding at September 30, 2019	58,156		$46.18		—
Granted	42,478		$40.61		—
Vested	(25,973)		$44.71		$	1,073
Cancelled/forfeited	(1,175)		$43.62		—
Non-vested and outstanding at September 30, 2020	73,486		$43.52		—
Granted	67,726		$33.34		—
Vested	(34,000)		$44.30		$	996
Cancelled/forfeited	(5,591)		$36.34		—
Non-vested and outstanding at September 30, 2021	101,621		$36.87		—
Granted	54,826		$38.84		—
Vested	(47,867)		$39.01		$	1,824
Cancelled/forfeited	(10,756)		$37.06		—
Non-vested and outstanding at September 30, 2022	97,824		$36.90		—

Deferred retention stock awards are granted upon approval by the Board of Directors, which generally occurs subsequent to the fiscal year end. Deferred retention stock awards vest immediately when granted, with shares delivered at a future date in accordance with the terms of the underlying agreements. The expense for these awards is recognized in the fiscal year in which services are rendered. The following table summarizes the deferred retention stock award under the stock award and incentive plans for the past three fiscal years:


	Shares	Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value		Total Fair Value of Vested Shares (in Thousands)
Outstanding at September 30, 2019	243,561		$44.67		—
Granted/Vested	42,358		$40.72		—
Delivered	(57,673)		$35.25		$	2,423

Outstanding at September 30, 2020	228,246		$46.32		—
Granted/Vested	2,999		$33.34		—
Delivered	(22,389)		$45.00		$	641

Outstanding at September 30, 2021	208,856		$46.28		—
Granted/Vested	192,728		$38.95		—
Delivered	(163,499)		$47.95		$	6,167
Forfeited	(6,818)		40.33		—
Outstanding at September 30, 2022	231,267		$39.16		—

Non-employee director compensation includes an annual equity retainer that is awarded at the time of the Company’s annual meeting of shareowners. The shares vest upon the earlier of the first anniversary of the grant date or the date of the Company’s next annual meeting of shareowners following the grant date and are subsequently amortized to expense over a 12-month period.