XML 26 R15.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT

Note 8 - Stock Based Compensation

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2026

Notes to Financial Statements

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Text Block]

Note 8 - Stock Based Compensation

Employee Stock Incentive Plan

In December 2019, our Board approved the 2019 HireQuest, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan (the "2019 Plan"), which was subsequently approved by shareholders in June 2020. Subject to the terms of the 2019 Plan, equity awards, including restricted stock and stock options, may be granted to employees, directors and consultants.

In September 2019, our Board approved a share purchase match program to encourage ownership and further align the interests of key employees and directors with those of our shareholders. Under this program, we match 20% of any shares of our common stock purchased on the open market by, or granted in lieu of cash compensation to, key employees and directors up to an aggregate value of $25 thousand per individual within any calendar year. These shares vest on the second anniversary of the date on which the matched shares were purchased if the individual is still employed by the Company or still serves as a director and certain other vesting criteria are met.

Restricted Stock Activity

During the first six months of 2026, we granted 4,902 shares of restricted common stock pursuant to the 2019 Plan to members of our Board of Directors for their services in lieu of cash retainers. The awards had a grant-date fair value of approximately $58 thousand and vest over 3 months. Also during the first six months of 2026, we granted 75,000 shares of restricted common stock to key employees for services in lieu of cash compensation. The awards had a grant-date fair value of approximately $893 thousand and vest over 4 years.

Share Purchase Match Program Activity

During the first six months of 2026, we granted 980 shares of restricted common stock pursuant to our stock purchase match program valued at approximately $12 thousand to members of our Board of Directors.

The following table summarizes our restricted stock outstanding at December 31, 2025, and changes during the six months ended June 30, 2026.

(number of shares in thousands)			*Shares*				*Weighted average grant date fair value*
Nonvested, December 31, 2025			55			$	15.85
Granted			81				11.91
Vested			(38	)			13.72
Nonvested, June 30, 2026			98				13.28

Stock Options

Stock options assumed in the merger with Command Center remain outstanding under the terms of the Command Center 2008 Plan, the Command Center 2016 Plan, and the related award documents. There were approximately 9 thousand and 13 thousand vested stock options outstanding at June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively.

The following table summarizes our stock options outstanding at December 31, 2025, and changes during the six months ended June 30, 2026.

(number of shares in thousands)			*Number of shares underlying options*				*Weighted average exercise price per share*				*Weighted average grant date fair value*
Outstanding, December 31, 2025			13			$	5.47			$	2.98
Exercised			(4	)			5.40				2.82
Outstanding, June 30, 2026			9				5.50				3.05

There were no nonvested stock options outstanding at June 30, 2026 or at December 31, 2025.

The following table summarizes information about our outstanding stock options, and reflects the intrinsic value recalculated based on the closing price of our common stock of $12.56 at June 30, 2026.

(number of shares and intrinsic value in thousands)			*Number of shares underlying options*				*Weighted average exercise price per share*				*Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)*				*Aggregate intrinsic value*
Outstanding and exercisable			9			$	5.50				2.0			$	62

At June 30, 2026, there was unrecognized stock-based compensation expense totaling approximately $865 thousand relating to nonvested restricted stock grants that will be recognized over the next 3.7 years.