11. Stock-Based Compensation

We maintain performance incentive plans under which incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share units, deferred shares, performance shares and performance units may be granted to employees and consultants. Our current practice is to issue new shares, rather than treasury shares, upon stock option exercises and for restricted share grants. To date, we have only granted non-qualified stock options, restricted shares and restricted share units of common stock under these plans. Non-employee directors have received only non-qualified stock options under a non-employee director equity plan, which expired in May 2007. Currently, we do not have a plan under which non-employee directors may be granted stock options or other equity interests in the Company.

In May 2013, our Board approved an amendment to our 2010 Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the plan to 6.6 million shares from 4.8 million shares. This amendment was approved by our stockholders at our annual meeting held on May 29, 2013. This is our only active performance incentive plan, and approximately 1.0 million of these shares were available for grant as of December 30, 2014.

Stock options generally vest at 20% per year and expire eight to ten years from the date of grant. Restricted shares and restricted share units generally vest between three to five years from the date of grant and require that the staff member remains employed in good standing with the Company as of the vesting date. Since restricted shares and restricted share units provide strong retention power through economic value to our staff members even when our stock price remains flat or declines, and it also reduces our total share usage, we have generally increased the proportion of restricted shares and restricted share units versus stock option grants over the past several years. Equity awards for certain executive officers may vest earlier in the event of a change of control, as defined in the plan.

The following table presents information related to stock-based compensation (in thousands):

	Fiscal Year
	2014		2013		2012

Labor expenses	$	5,245	$	4,478	$	3,445
Other operating costs and expenses	216		195		187
General and administrative expenses	11,356		9,462		7,206
Total stock-based compensation	16,817		14,135		10,838
Income tax benefit	6,433		5,407		4,146
Total stock-based compensation, net of taxes	$	10,384	$	8,728	$	6,692

Capitalized stock-based compensation (1)	$	216	$	177	$	255

(1)

It is our policy to capitalize the portion of stock-based compensation costs for our internal development and construction, legal, and facilities departments that relates to capitalizable activities such as the design and construction of new restaurants, remodeling existing locations, lease, intellectual property and liquor license acquisition activities and equipment installation. Capitalized stock-based compensation is included in property and equipment, net and other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

Stock Options

The weighted average fair value at the grant date for options issued during fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $15.48, $10.83 and $12.00 per option, respectively. The fair value of options at the grant date was estimated utilizing the Black-Scholes valuation model with the following weighted average assumptions for fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively: (a) an expected option term of 6.5 years, 6.4 years and 6.1 years, (b) expected stock price volatility of 32.9%, 33.5% and 40.5% , (c) a risk-free interest rate of 2.2%, 1.4% and 1.4%, and (d) a dividend yield on our stock of 1.2%, 1.3% and 0.2%.

The expected option term represents the estimated period of time until exercise and is based on historical experience of similar options, giving consideration to the contractual terms, vesting schedules and expectations of future employee behavior. Expected stock price volatility is based on a combination of the historical volatility of our stock and the implied volatility of actively traded options on our common stock. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant with an equivalent remaining term. The dividend yield is based on anticipated cash dividend payouts. Compensation expense is recognized only for those options expected to vest, with forfeitures estimated based on our historical experience and future expectations.

Stock option activity during fiscal 2014 was as follows:

	Shares		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	Aggregate Intrinsic Value(1)
	(In thousands)		(Per share)		(In years)	(In thousands)
Outstanding at beginning of year	4,823		$	23.70	4.1	$	118,505
Granted	329		$	48.19
Exercised	(1,088	)	$	21.06
Forfeited or cancelled	(41	)	$	30.96
Outstanding at end of year	4,023		$	26.34	3.7	$	97,406

Exercisable at end of year	2,185		$	23.36	2.8	$	59,410

(1)

Aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between our closing stock price at fiscal year end and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options and represents the pretax amount that would have been received by the option holders, had they all exercised their options on the fiscal year end date.

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $28.2 million, $40.1 million and $16.3 million, respectively. As of December 30, 2014, total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to nonvested stock options was $11.1 million, which we expect to recognize over a weighted average period of approximately 2.0 years.

Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units

Restricted share and restricted share unit activity during fiscal 2014 was as follows:

	Shares		Weighted Average Fair Value
	(In thousands)		(Per share)
Outstanding at beginning of year	1,672		$	32.81
Granted	462		$	47.16
Vested	(190	)	$	23.46
Forfeited	(124	)	$	37.25
Outstanding at end of year	1,820		$	37.12

Fair value of our restricted shares and restricted share units is based on our closing stock price on the date of grant. The weighted average fair value at the grant date for restricted shares and restricted share units issued during fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $47.16, $39.42 and $31.38, respectively. The fair value of shares that vested during fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $4.5 million, $2.6 million and $2.5 million, respectively. As of December 30, 2014, total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested restricted shares and restricted share units was $35.4 million, which we expect to recognize over a weighted average period of approximately 3.1 years.