STOCK COMPENSATION - RESTRICTED STOCK AND PERFORMANCE SHARE GRANTS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2025

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

STOCK COMPENSATION - RESTRICTED STOCK AND PERFORMANCE SHARE GRANTS

The Company’s stock incentive plans provide for the making of awards to employees based upon a service condition or through the achievement of performance-related objectives. The Company has issued three types of stock grant awards under these plans: restricted stock with service condition vesting; performance share grants that only vest upon the achievement of specified performance conditions, such as corporate cash flow goals or share price, or Performance Condition Grants; and performance share grants that include threshold, target, and maximum achievement levels based on the achievement of specific performance measures, or Performance Milestone Grants. Performance Condition Grants with market-based conditions are based on the achievement of a target share price. The share price used to calculate the grant date fair value for market-based awards is determined using a Monte Carlo simulation. Failure to achieve the target share price will result in the forfeiture of shares. Forfeiture of share awards with service conditions or performance-based restrictions will result in a reversal of previously recognized share-based compensation expense. Forfeiture of share awards with market-based restrictions does not result in a reversal of previously recognized share-based compensation expense.

The following is a summary of the Company’s Performance Condition Grants outstanding as of September 30, 2025:


Performance Condition Grants


Target performance						237,445
Maximum performance						298,159

The following is a summary of the Company’s stock grant activity, both time and performance unit grants, assuming target achievement for outstanding performance grants for the nine months ended September 30, 2025:


			September 30, 2025
Stock grants outstanding beginning of period at target achievement			312,564
New stock grants/additional shares due to achievement in excess of target			170,925
Vested grants			(25,012)
Expired/forfeited grants			(93,679)
Stock grants outstanding end of period at target achievement			364,798

The following is a summary of the assumptions used to determine the fair value for the Company’s outstanding market-based Performance Condition Grants as of September 30, 2025:


($ in thousands except for share prices)
Grant date	12/14/2022	06/16/2023	08/21/2023	12/16/2023
Vesting end	12/14/2025	12/31/2025	12/31/2025	12/31/2026
Target share price to achieve award	$21.99	$20.72	$19.20	$19.65

Expected volatility	32.14%	26.58%	25.55%	25.91%
Risk-free interest rate	3.84%	4.38%	4.74%	4.02%

Simulated Monte Carlo share price	$26.00	$20.24	$17.88	$19.74
Shares granted	4,613	9,515	1,650	4,828
Total fair value of award	$120	$193	$30	$95


($ in thousands except for share prices)
Grant date	03/13/2024	12/11/2024	03/06/2025	06/20/2025
Vesting end	03/22/2027	12/10/2027	03/06/2028	06/20/2028
Share price at target achievement	$18.93	$18.59	$18.56	$19.01

Expected volatility	25.56%	26.90%	27.04%	26.82%
Risk-free interest rate	4.31%	4.01%	3.90%	3.80%

Simulated Monte Carlo share price	$18.36	$18.55	$13.54	$18.53
Shares granted	15,225	2,315	13,046	18,351
Total fair value of award	$280	$43	$177	$340

The unamortized cost associated with unvested stock grants and the weighted average period over which it is expected to be recognized as of September 30, 2025 were $2,101,000 and 17 months, respectively. The fair value of restricted stock with time-based vesting features is based upon the Company’s share price on the date of grant and is expensed over the service period. Fair value of performance grants that cliff vest based on the achievement of performance conditions is based on the share price of the Company’s stock on the day of grant and is expensed over the performance period if it is probable that the award will vest. This fair value is expensed over the service period applicable to these grants. For performance grants that contain a range of shares from zero to maximum, the Company determines, based on historic and projected results, the probability of (1) achieving the performance objective, and (2) the level of achievement. Based on this information, the Company determines the number of awards probable of vesting and expenses the grant date fair value of such awards over the service period related to these grants. Because the ultimate vesting of all performance grants is tied to the achievement of a performance condition, the Company estimates whether the performance condition will be met and over what period of time. Ultimately, the Company adjusts compensation cost according to the actual outcome of the performance condition.

Under the 2023 Stock Incentive Plan, each non-employee director, during the years presented, received all or a portion of his or her annual compensation in stock.

The following table summarizes stock compensation costs for the Company's 2023 Stock Incentive Plan, 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, and the prior Non-Employee Director Stock Incentive Plan for the following periods:


($ in thousands)	Nine Months Ended September 30,
Employee	2025		2024
Expensed	$	519	$	3,665
Capitalized	475		620
	994		4,285
Director	638		421
Total stock compensation costs	$	1,632	$	4,706