STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS
The 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2022 Plan”) permits the granting of a combination of Restricted Stock awards and incentive and non-qualified stock options (“Stock Options”) to employees and directors. A total of 1.2 million shares was authorized under the Plan. Awards may be granted as either Restricted Stock or Stock Options provided that any shares that are granted as Restricted Stock are counted against the share limit set forth as (1) one for every one share of Restricted Stock granted and (2) one for every one share of Stock Option granted. As of the 2022 Plan's effective date, all expired, canceled, and forfeited shares under the 2018 Plan are included in the 2022 Plan's available shares. As of year-end 2024, the Company had the ability to grant approximately 0.8 million shares under this plan.
A summary of activity in the Company’s stock compensation plans is shown below:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Non-vested Stock
Awards Outstanding | | Stock Options Outstanding |
| (Shares in thousands) | | Number of Shares | | Weighted- Average
Grant Date
Fair Value | | Number of Shares | | Weighted- Average Exercise Price |
| Balance, December 31, 2023 | | 785 | | | $ | 24.92 | | | 49 | | | $ | 26.46 | |
| Granted | | 500 | | | 23.25 | | | — | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Stock options exercised | | — | | | — | | | (5) | | | 24.71 | |
| Stock awards vested | | (359) | | | 12.56 | | | — | | | — | |
| Forfeited | | (130) | | | 25.55 | | | — | | | — | |
| Expired | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
| Balance, December 31, 2024 | | 796 | | | $ | 24.94 | | | 44 | | | $ | 26.65 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Stock Awards
The total compensation cost for stock awards recognized as expense was $8.3 million, $7.5 million, and $7.3 million, in the years 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. The total recognized tax benefit associated with this compensation cost was $2.3 million, $2.0 million, and $2.0 million, respectively.
The weighted average fair value of stock awards granted was $23.25, $26.18, and $28.75 in 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. Stock awards vest over periods up to five years and are valued at the closing price of the stock on the grant date. Certain awards vest based on the Company's performance over established measurement periods. The total fair value of stock awards vested during 2024, 2023, and 2022 was $4.5 million, $5.6 million, and $5.1 million respectively. The unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested stock awards was $10.1 million as of year-end 2024. This amount is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of two years.
Option Awards
Option awards are granted with an exercise price equal to the market price of the Company’s stock at the date of grant, and vest over periods up to five years. The options grant the holder the right to acquire a share of the Company’s common stock for each option held, and have a contractual life of ten years. As of year-end 2024, the weighted average remaining contractual term for options outstanding is one year.
The Company generally issues shares from treasury stock as options are exercised. The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The expected dividend yield and expected term are based on management estimates. The expected volatility is based on historical volatility. The risk-free interest rates for the expected term are based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant. The Company did not grant options during 2024 and 2023.
The total intrinsic value of options exercised during 2024 was $31 thousand. There were no options exercised during 2023. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during 2022 was $62 thousand. There was no expense pertaining to options vesting in 2024. The expense pertaining to options vesting was $1 thousand and $13 thousand for the years 2023 and 2022, respectively. The tax benefit associated with stock option expense for 2023 and 2022 was $0.2 thousand and $3 thousand, respectively. As of year-end 2024 and 2023, there was no unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested stock options. The unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested stock options as of year-end 2022 was $1 thousand.