GRAY MEDIA, INC Stock Compensation Disclosure
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8. |
Stock-Based Compensation |
We recognize compensation expense for stock-based payment awards made to our employees, consultants and directors under our active stock-based compensation plan, the “2022 EICP”. The following table presents our stock-based compensation expense and the related income tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 (in millions):
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Year Ended December 31, |
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2025 |
2024 |
2023 |
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Stock-based compensation expense, gross |
$ | 22 | $ | 22 | $ | 20 | ||||||
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Income tax benefit at our statutory rate associated with stock-based compensation |
- | (6 | ) | (5 | ) | |||||||
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Stock-based compensation expense, net |
$ | 22 | $ | 16 | $ | 15 | ||||||
Currently, the 2022 EICP provides for the grant of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, stock appreciation rights and performance awards to acquire shares of our Class A common stock or common stock, or other awards based on our performance. All shares of common stock and Class A common stock underlying outstanding options (if any), restricted stock units and performance awards are counted as issued under the 2022 EICP for purposes of determining the number of shares available for future issuance.
As of December 31, 2025, we had $12 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to all non-vested stock-based compensation arrangements. The weighted average recognition period remaining is 1.6 years.
A summary of activity for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 under our stock based compensation plans is as follows:
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Year Ended December 31, |
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2025 |
2024 |
2023 |
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Weighted- |
Weighted- |
Weighted- |
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Average |
Average |
Average |
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Number |
Grant Date |
Number |
Grant Date |
Number |
Grant Date |
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of |
Fair Value |
of |
Fair Value |
of |
Fair Value |
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Shares |
Per Share |
Shares |
Per Share |
Shares |
Per Share |
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Restricted stock - common: |
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Outstanding - beginning of period |
2,567,707 | $ | 9.03 | 1,467,936 | $ | 12.17 | 997,745 | $ | 20.62 | |||||||||||||||
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Granted |
1,449,847 | 4.00 | 1,785,958 | 7.47 | 1,007,919 | 8.15 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Vested |
(927,178 | ) | 10.97 | (556,187 | ) | 12.51 | (537,728 | ) | 20.32 | |||||||||||||||
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Forfeited |
- | - | (130,000 | ) | 8.10 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
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Outstanding - end of period |
3,090,376 | $ | 6.09 | 2,567,707 | $ | 9.03 | 1,467,936 | $ | 12.17 | |||||||||||||||
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Restricted stock - Class A common: |
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Outstanding - beginning of period |
1,589,020 | $ | 9.78 | 1,148,233 | $ | 12.37 | 677,238 | $ | 19.36 | |||||||||||||||
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Granted |
961,422 | 6.97 | 823,393 | 8.25 | 738,854 | 8.34 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Vested |
(485,902 | ) | 13.22 | (382,606 | ) | 14.24 | (267,859 | ) | 18.95 | |||||||||||||||
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Outstanding - end of period |
2,064,540 | $ | 7.66 | 1,589,020 | $ | 9.78 | 1,148,233 | $ | 12.37 | |||||||||||||||
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Restricted stock units - common: |
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Outstanding - beginning of period |
1,229,390 | $ | 5.72 | 587,168 | $ | 11.50 | 274,145 | $ | 23.60 | |||||||||||||||
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Granted |
- | - | 1,229,390 | 5.72 | 587,168 | 11.50 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Vested |
(1,163,515 | ) | 5.72 | (564,793 | ) | 11.50 | (247,953 | ) | 23.64 | |||||||||||||||
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Forfeited |
(65,875 | ) | 5.72 | (22,375 | ) | 11.50 | (26,192 | ) | 23.15 | |||||||||||||||
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Outstanding - end of period |
- | $ | - | 1,229,390 | $ | 5.72 | 587,168 | $ | 11.50 | |||||||||||||||
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
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| 2025 | Feb 26, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Feb 27, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Feb 23, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Feb 24, 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.