Stock-Based Awards and Other Equity Instruments
Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Expedia Group, Inc. 2005 Stock and Annual Incentive Plan, we may grant restricted stock, restricted stock awards, RSUs, stock options and other stock-based awards, such as PSUs, to directors, officers, employees and consultants. As of December 31, 2025, we had approximately nine million shares of common stock reserved for new stock-based awards under the 2005 Stock and Annual Incentive Plan. We issue new shares to satisfy the exercise or release of stock-based awards.
The following table presents a summary of RSU activity:
RSUsWeighted Average
Grant-Date Fair
Value
 (In thousands) 
Balance as of December 31, 20246,712 $124.31 
Granted2,837 173.18 
Vested(3,481)133.08 
Cancelled(1,030)129.57 
Balance as of December 31, 20255,038 144.65 
The following table presents a summary of PSU activity:
PSUsWeighted Average
Grant-Date Fair
Value
 (In thousands) 
Shares probable to be issued as of December 31, 2024346 $99.88 
Granted(1)
229 175.00 
Performance Shares Adjustment(2)
208 163.62 
Cancelled(119)195.93 
Shares probable to be issued as of December 31, 2025(2)
664 124.68 
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(1)Represents number of shares granted at 100% of target.
(2)Outcome for vested market-based awards is updated based upon achievement of certain stock price growth rate targets of the Company’s common stock. Probable outcome for unvested market-based awards is based upon achievement of certain stock price growth rate targets of the Company’s common stock as of December 31, 2025. Probable outcome for unvested performance-based awards is updated based upon changes in actual and forecasted operating results or expected achievement of performance goals, as applicable, and the impact of modifications.
The total market value of RSU and PSU shares vested during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 was $722 million, $578 million and $316 million.
The following table presents a summary of our stock option activity:
OptionsWeighted Average
Exercise Price
Remaining
Contractual Life
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
 (In thousands) (In years)(In millions)
Balance as of December 31, 20242,392 $154.61 
Exercised(692)148.29 
Balance as of December 31, 20251,700 157.18 0.7$214 
Exercisable as of December 31, 20251,700 157.18 0.7214 
The aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding options shown in the stock option activity table above represents the total pretax intrinsic value at December 31, 2025, based on our closing stock price of $283.31 as of the last trading date in 2025. The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised was $57 million, $33 million and $9 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023.
There were no options granted during 2025, 2024 or 2023.
In 2025, 2024 and 2023, we recognized total stock-based compensation expense of $398 million, $458 million and $413 million. The total income tax benefit related to stock-based compensation expense was $206 million, $152 million and $88 million for 2025, 2024 and 2023. We capitalized $99 million, $81 million and $71 million of stock-based compensation expense associated with the cost of developing internal-use software in 2025, 2024 and 2023.
Cash received from stock-based award exercises for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 was $12 million, $67 million and $60 million, respectively. Total current income tax benefits during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 associated with the exercise of stock-based awards held by our employees were $39 million, $24 million and $17 million, respectively.
As of December 31, 2025, there was approximately $703 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested stock-based awards, which is expected to be recognized in expense over a weighted-average period of 1.13 years.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
We have an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”), which allows shares of our common stock to be purchased by eligible employees at six-month intervals at 85% of the fair market value of the stock on either the first or the last day of each six-month period, whichever is lower. Eligible employees were allowed to contribute up to 15% of their base compensation. During 2025, 2024 and 2023, approximately 227,000, 415,000, and 442,000 shares were purchased under this plan for an average price of $165.72, $116.91 and $92.56 per share. As of December 31, 2025, we have reserved approximately 0.8 million shares of our common stock for issuance under the ESPP.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Feb 13, 2026Showing above
2024Feb 7, 2025
2023Feb 9, 2024
2022Feb 10, 2023

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.