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EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]  
EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION
A summary of equity-based compensation expense by award type was as follows:
202520242023
Performance stock units$4,520 $2,611 $3,149 
Restricted stock units14,983 13,304 11,739 
Equity-based compensation expense$19,503 $15,915 $14,888 
Total income tax benefit recognized related to equity-based compensation$496 $396 $391 
Equity-based compensation expense recognized was as follows:
202520242023
General and administrative expenses$17,514 $14,339 $13,587 
Labor and related expenses1,989 1,576 1,301 
Equity-based compensation expense$19,503 $15,915 $14,888 
The Company capitalized $450, $371 and $286 of equity-based compensation expense associated with the construction cost of our Shacks and certain digital and technology projects, during fiscal 2025, fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2023, respectively.
Restricted Stock Units
The Company is authorized to grant up to 6,707,843 restricted stock units and other equity-based awards to team members, directors and officers under the 2025 Incentive Award Plan (the “2025 Plan”). The restricted stock units granted generally vest equally over periods ranging from one to five years. The fair value of restricted stock units is determined based on the closing market price of our Class A common stock on the date of grant. Compensation expense related to the restricted stock units is recognized using a straight-line attribution method over the vesting period.
A summary of restricted stock unit activity was as follows:
Restricted
Stock
Units
Weighted
Average
Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding and unvested as of December 28, 2022
395,853 $76.82 
Granted326,692 58.26 
Vested(147,163)70.29 
Forfeited(63,838)68.94 
Outstanding and unvested as of December 27, 2023
511,544 67.82 
Granted199,345 102.77 
Vested(185,649)70.31 
Forfeited(82,436)73.41 
Outstanding and unvested as of December 25, 2024442,804 81.47 
Granted201,723 109.32 
Vested(162,408)81.80 
Forfeited(86,337)86.81 
Outstanding and unvested as of December 31, 2025395,782 $94.37 
The total fair value of shares vested during fiscal 2025, fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2023 was $13,285, $13,021 and $10,382, respectively. As of December 31, 2025, total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock units was $25,071, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.0 years.
Performance Stock Units
Under the 2025 Plan, the Company may grant performance stock units and other types of performance-based equity awards that vest based on the outcome of certain performance criteria that are established and approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The actual number of equity awards earned is based on the level of performance achieved over a predetermined performance period, relative to established financial goals.
Performance stock units granted during fiscal 2025 are subject to a requisite service period and the awards cliff vest over three years. The amount of awards that can be earned ranges from 0% to 200% of the number of performance stock units granted, based on the achievement of approved financial goals over a three-year performance period. Performance stock units granted during fiscal 2024 are subject to a requisite service period and the awards vest ratably over four years or cliff vest over three years. The amount of awards that can be earned ranges from 0% to 200% of the number of performance stock units granted, based on the achievement of approved financial goals over a one-year or three-year performance period. No performance stock units were granted during fiscal 2023.
Performance stock units containing market conditions are based on a Monte Carlo simulation, and related compensation expense is recognized using a graded attribution method over the vesting period and does not change regardless of the amount of shares received by the recipient based on achievement of the awards. The fair value of performance stock units not containing a market condition is determined based on the closing market price of the Company's Class A common stock on the date of grant. Compensation expense related to the performance stock units not containing a market condition is recognized using either a graded-vesting attribution method or straight-line over the vesting period based on the most probable outcome of the performance conditions.
A summary of performance stock unit activity was as follows:
Performance
Stock
Units
Weighted
Average
Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding and unvested as of December 28, 2022
159,822 $92.22 
Vested(25,494)91.36 
Forfeited(12,903)88.70 
Outstanding and unvested as of December 27, 2023
121,425 92.77 
Granted95,624 103.98 
Vested(10,646)129.68 
Forfeited(33,957)91.73 
Outstanding and unvested as of December 25, 2024172,446 96.82 
Granted73,057 106.87 
Performance achievement(1)
3,093 107.25 
Vested(85,408)89.85 
Forfeited(9,225)107.84 
Outstanding and unvested as of December 31, 2025153,963 $105.00 
(1)Represents the incremental awards earned and/or awards forfeited based on the achievement of performance conditions.

The total fair value of awards that vested during fiscal 2025, fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2023 was $9,136, $1,104 and $1,441, respectively. The weighted average grant date fair value of performance stock units granted during fiscal 2023 was nil. As of December 31, 2025, total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested performance stock units was $8,471, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.0 years.