Stock Compensation Plans

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2024

Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Noncash Expense [Abstract]

STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS

Under the Company's 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, the Company can grant options and awards of restricted stock (with or without performance measures) for up to 352,366 shares of common stock to employees, officers, directors and directors emeriti. Under the Company's 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, the Company is able to grant options and awards or restricted stock (with or without performance measures) for up to 350,000 shares of common stock, of which 300,000 shares are reserved to be awarded to employees, including officers, and 50,000 shares are reserved to be awarded to directors and directors emeriti. Shares issued may be purchased in the open market or may be issued from authorized and unissued shares. The exercise price of each option equals the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Generally, options and restricted stock vest in 20% annual installments on each of the five anniversaries from the date of the grant, and options generally have a maximum

contractual term of ten years from the date of grant. At June 30, 2024, there were 15,576 shares of common stock available which may be awarded as options or restricted stock pursuant to future grant under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan. At June 30, 2024, there were 182,070 shares of common stock available which may be awarded as options or restricted stock pursuant to future grant under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan.

Stock option activity for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 is summarized as follows:


	Nine Months Ended June 30, 2024			Nine Months Ended June 30, 2023
	Number of Shares	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Number of Shares	Weighted Average Exercise Price
Options outstanding, beginning of period	369,150	$	24.00	421,925	$	23.30
Exercised	(30,200)	13.07		(27,055)	19.77
Granted	—	—		1,000	33.40
Forfeited	(16,560)	26.98		(7,800)	28.23
Options outstanding, end of period	322,390	$	24.87	388,070	$	23.47

The fair value of stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model.

There were no stock options granted during the nine months ended June 30, 2024.

The weighted average assumptions for options granted during the nine months ended June 30, 2023 were as follows:


Expected volatility	33		%
Expected life (in years)	5
Expected dividend yield	2.99		%
Risk free interest rate	3.58		%
Grant date fair value per share	$	8.65

The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 was $501,000 and $345,000, respectively.

At June 30, 2024, there were 121,820 unvested options with an aggregate grant date fair value of $709,000, all of which the Company assumes will vest. The aggregate intrinsic value of unvested options at June 30, 2024 was $221,000. There were 300 options that vested during the nine months ended June 30, 2024 with a total fair value of $2,000.

At June 30, 2023, there were 186,910 unvested options with an aggregate grant date fair value of $1.05 million. There were 3,200 options that vested during the nine months ended June 30, 2023 with a total fair value of $17,000.

Additional information regarding options outstanding at June 30, 2024 is as follows:


			Options Outstanding				Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices ($)			Number	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	Number	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)

10.26	-	10.71	26,250	$	10.62	1.0	26,250	$	10.62	1.0
15.67	-	19.13	60,500	16.55		5.2	38,840	16.37		4.6
26.50	-	27.40	98,820	27.31		7.3	39,060	27.23		6.3
28.23	-	29.69	103,900	28.79		5.7	64,300	29.13		4.8
31.80	-	33.40	32,920	31.85		4.4	32,120	31.60		4.3
			322,390	$	24.87	5.6	200,570	$	24.29	4.5

The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding at June 30, 2024 and 2023 was $1.07 million and $1.58 million, respectively.

As of June 30, 2024, unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options was $579,000, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average life of 1.81 years.

At June 30, 2024, there were 26,150 unvested restricted stock awards. At June 30, 2023, there were no unvested restricted stock awards. There were no restricted stock awards granted during the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.


	Time Based
	Number of Unvested Shares	Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding, September 30, 2023	26,150	$	27.37
Granted	—	—
Forfeited	—	—
Vested	—	—
Outstanding, June 30, 2024	26,150	$	27.37

The fair value of restricted stock awards is equal to the fair value of the Company's stock on the date of the grant. The related stock-based compensation expense is recorded over the requisite service period. At June 30, 2024, unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock awards was $597,000, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.98 years.