COMMON STOCK AND STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION	9 Months Ended
Jan. 26, 2019
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
COMMON STOCK AND STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION	COMMON STOCK AND STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION Restricted Stock Awards ("RSAs") In fiscal 2016, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors authorized a new long-term incentive program (the “LTIP”) for key employees consisting of performance-based restricted stock awards (“RSAs”) and time-based restricted stock units (“RSUs”). Additionally, in the first quarter of fiscal 2019, the Compensation Committee awarded a maximum of 11,625 RSAs to an additional key member of management under the LTIP. In the aggregate, the number of RSAs earned will vary based on performance relative to established goals for fiscal 2020 EBITDA, with 50% of the target shares earned for threshold performance (representing 332,543 shares), 100% of the target shares earned for target performance (representing 665,085 shares) and 150% of the target shares earned for maximum performance (representing 997,628 shares). Starting in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 and ending with the first quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company had been recording the RSA compensation expense based on threshold performance. Prior thereto, the Company had been recording the RSA compensation expense based on target performance. Per ASC 718 accounting guidance, management is required in each reporting period to determine the fiscal 2020 EBITDA level that is "probable" (70% confidence) for which a performance condition will be achieved. Due to the expected accretive nature of the Grakon acquisition on fiscal 2020 results, management determined during the second quarter of fiscal 2019 that it was probable that the Company will meet the fiscal 2020 target consolidated EBITDA performance level of $221.0 million. At the target level of performance, the expected expense for the RSAs is $22.1 million through fiscal 2020. In the three and nine months ended January 26, 2019, the Company recorded $0.6 million and $9.7 million, respectively, in compensation expense related to the RSAs based on target performance. The $9.7 million in compensation expense recorded in the nine months ended January 26, 2019 is inclusive of $7.4 million in compensation expense, which was the result of changing the estimated level of performance from threshold to target levels in the second quarter. In the three and nine months ended January 27, 2018, the Company recorded a net reversal of compensation expense of $5.4 million and $2.2 million, respectively, related to the RSAs based on threshold performance. These amounts are inclusive of a $6.0 million compensation expense reversal in the third quarter of fiscal 2018, which was the result of changing the estimated level of performance from target to threshold levels. In future reporting periods, if management makes a determination that exceeding the target level is probable for fiscal 2020, an appropriate adjustment to compensation expense will be recorded in that period. In addition, if management makes a determination that it is not probable the Company will meet the target level for fiscal 2020, a reversal of compensation expense will be recorded in that period. The adjustments could be material to the financial statements. Restricted Stock Units ("RSUs") In the first quarter of fiscal 2019, the Compensation Committee awarded 7,750 RSUs to an additional key member of Methode management. In the aggregate, the Company has granted 646,675 RSUs to key employees, of which 329,497 are still unvested and outstanding. The RSUs are subject to a vesting period, with 30% vested on April 28, 2018, 30% vesting on April 27, 2019 and 40% vesting on May 2, 2020. The total expense for the RSUs is expected to be $17.0 million through fiscal 2020. During the three and nine months ended January 26, 2019, the Company recorded $0.2 million and $1.1 million, respectively, of compensation expense related to the RSUs. During the three and nine months ended January 27, 2018, the Company recorded $1.5 million and $4.5 million, respectively, in compensation expense related to the RSUs. Director Awards During the first quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company issued 24,000 shares of common stock to our independent directors, all of which vested immediately upon grant. We recorded $0.9 million of compensation expense related to these shares during the nine months ended January 26, 2019.

COMMON STOCK AND STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Restricted Stock Awards ("RSAs")

In fiscal 2016, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors authorized a new long-term incentive program (the “LTIP”) for key employees consisting of performance-based restricted stock awards (“RSAs”) and time-based restricted stock units (“RSUs”). Additionally, in the first quarter of fiscal 2019, the Compensation Committee awarded a maximum of 11,625 RSAs to an additional key member of management under the LTIP.

In the aggregate, the number of RSAs earned will vary based on performance relative to established goals for fiscal 2020 EBITDA, with 50% of the target shares earned for threshold performance (representing 332,543 shares), 100% of the target shares earned for target performance (representing 665,085 shares) and 150% of the target shares earned for maximum performance (representing 997,628 shares). Starting in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 and ending with the first quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company had been recording the RSA compensation expense based on threshold performance. Prior thereto, the Company had been recording the RSA compensation expense based on target performance.

Per ASC 718 accounting guidance, management is required in each reporting period to determine the fiscal 2020 EBITDA level that is "probable" (70% confidence) for which a performance condition will be achieved. Due to the expected accretive nature of the Grakon acquisition on fiscal 2020 results, management determined during the second quarter of fiscal 2019 that it was probable that the Company will meet the fiscal 2020 target consolidated EBITDA performance level of $221.0 million.

At the target level of performance, the expected expense for the RSAs is $22.1 million through fiscal 2020. In the three and nine months ended January 26, 2019, the Company recorded $0.6 million and $9.7 million, respectively, in compensation expense related to the RSAs based on target performance. The $9.7 million in compensation expense recorded in the nine months ended January 26, 2019 is inclusive of $7.4 million in compensation expense, which was the result of changing the estimated level of performance from threshold to target levels in the second quarter. In the three and nine months ended January 27, 2018, the Company recorded a net reversal of compensation expense of $5.4 million and $2.2 million, respectively, related to the RSAs based on threshold performance. These amounts are inclusive of a $6.0 million compensation expense reversal in the third quarter of fiscal 2018, which was the result of changing the estimated level of performance from target to threshold levels.

In future reporting periods, if management makes a determination that exceeding the target level is probable for fiscal 2020, an appropriate adjustment to compensation expense will be recorded in that period. In addition, if management makes a determination that it is not probable the Company will meet the target level for fiscal 2020, a reversal of compensation expense will be recorded in that period. The adjustments could be material to the financial statements.

Restricted Stock Units ("RSUs")

In the first quarter of fiscal 2019, the Compensation Committee awarded 7,750 RSUs to an additional key member of Methode management. In the aggregate, the Company has granted 646,675 RSUs to key employees, of which 329,497 are still unvested and outstanding. The RSUs are subject to a vesting period, with 30% vested on April 28, 2018, 30% vesting on April 27, 2019 and 40% vesting on May 2, 2020. The total expense for the RSUs is expected to be $17.0 million through fiscal 2020. During the three and nine months ended January 26, 2019, the Company recorded $0.2 million and $1.1 million, respectively, of compensation expense related to the RSUs. During the three and nine months ended January 27, 2018, the Company recorded $1.5 million and $4.5 million, respectively, in compensation expense related to the RSUs.

Director Awards

During the first quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company issued 24,000 shares of common stock to our independent directors, all of which vested immediately upon grant. We recorded $0.9 million of compensation expense related to these shares during the nine months ended January 26, 2019.