Equity-Based Compensation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Noncash Expense [Abstract]

NOTE 8. EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION

We issue new shares of common stock to settle performance share awards (PSAs), restricted stock units (RSUs) and deferred compensation stock equivalent units. At September 30, 2024 approximately 1.5 million shares were available for future use under our long-term incentive plans.

Share-based compensation activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 included the following:


	Granted		Vested		Forfeited
Performance Share Awards (PSAs)		130,536		—		2,767
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)		121,726		45,014		1,657

Approximately 0.1 million shares of common stock were issued to employees during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, as a result of PSA and RSU vesting during 2023 and 2024.

The following table details compensation expense and the related income tax benefit for company specific equity-based awards:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2024		2023		2024		2023
Equity-based compensation expense:
Performance share awards	$	1,635	$	1,483	$	4,628	$	3,623
Restricted stock units		1,260		1,084		3,691		2,702
Deferred compensation stock equivalent units expense		51		49		149		147
Total equity-based compensation expense	$	2,946	$	2,616	$	8,468	$	6,472

Total tax benefit recognized for equity-based expense	$	197	$	135	$	554	$	394

Performance Share Awards

The weighted-average grant date fair value of PSAs granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was $52.92 per share. PSAs granted under the stock incentive plans have a three-year performance period and shares are issued at the end of the period if the performance measures are met. The number of shares actually issued, as a percentage of the amount subject to the PSA, could range from 0% to 200%. PSAs granted under the stock incentive plans do not have voting rights unless and until shares are issued upon settlement. If shares are issued at the end of the performance measurement period, the recipients will receive dividend equivalents in the form of additional shares of common stock at the date of settlement equal to the dividends that would have been paid on the shares earned had the recipients owned the shares during the three-year period. The share awards are not considered participating securities.

The following table presents the key inputs used in the Monte Carlo simulation to calculate the fair value of the performance share awards granted in 2024:


Stock price as of valuation date	$	44.67
Risk-free rate		4.20	%
Expected volatility		27.71	%
Expected dividend yield1		—
Expected term (years)		3.00


1	Full dividend reinvestment assumed.

Restricted Stock Units

The weighted-average fair value of all RSUs granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was $44.31 per share. The fair value of RSUs granted equaled our common share price on the date of grant factoring in any required post-vesting holding periods. The RSU awards granted accrue dividend equivalents based on dividends paid during the RSU vesting period. Recipients will receive dividend equivalents in the form of additional shares of common stock at the date the vested RSUs are settled. Any forfeited RSUs will not receive dividends. The share awards are not considered participating securities.