Stock Incentive Plans
 
The Company's stock incentive plans allow for the granting of restricted stock or restricted stock unit awards and options to purchase common stock. Both incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options can be awarded under the plans. However, an immaterial amount of options were granted, exercised or outstanding in 2025. The plans have 12 million shares available for future awards.

Compensation expense for stock options and restricted stock unit awards is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, generally three to five years for stock options and one to three years for restricted stock or restricted stock unit awards. Vesting is accelerated by one year for individuals who qualify under the Company's retirement eligible provisions. Certain restricted stock unit awards contain performance-based or market-based provisions as well as service-based provisions. The fair value of restricted stock and restricted stock units with only service-based or performance-based provisions is determined using the previous day's market close price at the time of grant. The fair value of restricted stock units with market-based provisions is determined using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The fair value of stock options is determined based on the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Forfeitures for all stock awards are recognized as they occur. The total compensation cost that has been charged against income for the stock incentive plans was $204 million, $212 million and $216 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The total income tax benefit recognized in the Statements of Operations for stock-based compensation arrangements was $20 million, $26 million and $101 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
A summary of the Company's non-vested restricted stock and restricted stock unit shares as of December 31, 2025, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2025, is presented below (shares in thousands):
 SharesWeighted Average
Grant Date Fair Value
Non-vested balance, December 31, 2024
6,352 $73.10 
Granted8,836 44.75 
Vested(2,593)70.79 
Forfeited(1,047)66.52 
Non-vested balance, December 31, 2025
11,548 $52.53 

The total fair value of restricted stock and restricted stock units vested during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, was $147 million, $317 million and $185 million, respectively.

As of December 31, 2025, there was $356 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the plans; that cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.1 years.
The Company maintains an employee stock purchase plan and issued 796 thousand shares, 572 thousand shares and 607 thousand shares in 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Feb 17, 2026Showing above
2017Feb 20, 2018

About Stock Compensation Disclosures

Stock-based compensation disclosures detail the equity awards granted to employees and executives — including stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), and performance shares — along with the valuation methods and assumptions used to expense them. This section reveals the true cost of talent retention and the alignment between management incentives and shareholder interests.

Key signals: total unrecognized compensation expense and its expected recognition period signal future earnings headwinds from already-granted awards. For stock options, examine Black-Scholes assumptions — expected volatility, risk-free rate, and expected term — as understating any of these reduces reported compensation expense. Compare stock compensation expense as a percentage of revenue against peers to assess dilution cost. Watch vesting schedules for acceleration clauses tied to change-of-control events. Performance-based awards with undemanding targets may indicate weak governance. Add back stock compensation to operating cash flow to calculate a more conservative free cash flow figure.