HACKETT GROUP, INC. Stock Compensation Disclosure
10. Stock Based Compensation
Stock Plan
Total share-based compensation included in net income for the years ended December 26, 2025, December 27, 2024, and December 29, 2023 is as follows:
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Year Ended |
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December 26, |
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December 27, |
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December 29, |
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2025 |
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|
2024 |
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2023 |
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|||
Restricted stock units |
|
$ |
30,628 |
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|
$ |
19,524 |
|
|
$ |
10,714 |
|
Common stock subject to vesting requirements |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
$ |
30,628 |
|
|
$ |
19,524 |
|
|
$ |
10,724 |
|
The number of shares available for future issuance under the Company's stock plans as of December 26, 2025 were 1,870,600. The Company issues new shares as they are required to be delivered under the plan.
Stock Options and SARs
There were no outstanding stock options or SARs as of December 26, 2025 and December 27, 2024.
Restricted Stock Units
Under the Company's stock plan, participants may be granted restricted stock units, each of which represents a conditional right to receive a common share in the future. The restricted stock units granted under this plan generally vest over one of the following vesting schedules: (1) a four-year period, with 50% vesting on the second anniversary and 25% of the shares vesting on the third and fourth anniversaries of the grant date, (2) a four-year period, with 25% vesting on the first, second, third and fourth anniversary, (3) a three-year period with 33% vesting on the first, second and third anniversary, or (4) a one-year period with 100% vest on the first anniversary. Upon vesting, the restricted stock units will convert into an equivalent number of shares of common stock. The amount of expense relating to the restricted stock units is based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant and is amortized on a straight-line basis over the applicable requisite service period. Restricted stock unit activity for the year ended December 26, 2025, was as follows:
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Number of |
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Weighted Average |
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||
Nonvested balance as of December 27, 2024 |
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3,452,314 |
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|
$ |
19.16 |
|
Granted |
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359,621 |
|
|
|
30.41 |
|
Vested |
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|
(1,280,759 |
) |
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|
23.85 |
|
Forfeited |
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|
(49,534 |
) |
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|
27.71 |
|
Nonvested balance as of December 26, 2025 |
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|
2,481,642 |
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|
$ |
26.06 |
|
On September 16, 2024 and September 17, 2024, in connection with the stock price award program, the Company granted its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and certain other Company leaders performance-based restricted stock units, in the amounts of 786,885, 413,115, 72,000, and 607,350, respectively. In connection with the awards, the annual equity incentive award opportunities for the recipients during the performance period of the awards will be reduced by 50% compared to the annual equity incentive award opportunities in the Company’s executive compensation program for 2024. The awards are split into three equal tranches with each tranche having its own market condition and service condition. The market condition is met when the Company’s stock price reaches a certain weighted average share price hurdle for twenty consecutive trading days during the performance period from the grant date through December 31, 2028. The share price hurdles are $30, $40, and $50 for the first, second, and third tranches, respectively. Additionally, the service condition is met if the employee is employed on the first, second, and third anniversary of the grant date for the first tranche, second tranche, and third tranche, respectively.
10. Stock Based Compensation (continued)
Furthermore, if the second or third tranches are not met during the performance period, and the volume weighted average of the Company’s stock price falls between two share price hurdles for over 20 consecutive trading days immediately prior to the end of the performance period, the employee will vest in an interpolated amount of the next tranche.
The Company used a Monte Carlo valuation model to determine the fair value of the three tranches as of the grant date. The Monte Carlo valuation model, using different share price paths, calculates a derived service period which is the median share price path on which the market condition is satisfied for each tranche. The requisite service period was determined to be service conditions as the service conditions are greater than the derived service period. For each of the three tranches, stock compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. The Company has elected to account for forfeitures as incurred. If an employee forfeits nonvested shares subsequent to meeting a service condition, the previously recognized expense is not reversed. If an employee forfeits nonvested shares prior to meeting a service condition, the previously recognized expense is reversed.
As of December 26, 2025, the first tranche had vested, and as such the shares were included in the Company's basic and dilutive shares outstanding. As of December 26, 2025, the market conditions for the second and third tranche had not been met and had not vested, therefore shares were not included in the Company's basic or dilutive shares outstanding. The stock price award program non-cash stock compensation expense was $16.8 million for the year ended December 26, 2025. As of December 26, 2025, there was $7.1 million of total unrecognized non-cash stock based compensation expense which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years.
The following tables summarize information about the Company’s stock price award program awards described above:
Award Summary |
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Tranche |
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Grant Date Fair Value |
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Share Price Vesting Conditions* |
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Underlying Share # |
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Contractual Service Period |
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Derived Service Period |
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September 16, 2024 |
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September 17, 2024 |
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Both Grant Dates |
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September 16, 2024 |
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September 17, 2024 |
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Both Grant Dates |
|
September 16, 2024 |
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September 17, 2024 |
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1 |
|
$ |
21.26 |
|
|
$ |
22.85 |
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>$30pershare |
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|
424,000 |
|
|
|
202,450 |
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1 year |
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0.60 years |
|
0.46 years |
2 |
|
$ |
14.96 |
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|
$ |
16.31 |
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|
>$30to<$40pershare |
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|
424,000 |
|
|
|
202,450 |
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2 years |
|
2.00 years |
|
1.86 years |
3 |
|
$ |
9.93 |
|
|
$ |
11.03 |
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|
>$40to<$50pershare |
|
|
424,000 |
|
|
|
202,450 |
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3 years |
|
2.71 years |
|
2.60 years |
The following table summarizes the fair value assumption utilized in the Monte Carlo valuation model to calculate fair value:
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Grant Date |
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Volatility |
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Risk Free Interest Rate |
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Dividend Yield |
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|||
September 16, 2024 |
|
|
29.5 |
% |
|
|
3.38 |
% |
|
|
1.70 |
% |
September 17, 2024 |
|
|
29.5 |
% |
|
|
3.41 |
% |
|
|
1.65 |
% |
In connection with the acquisition of LeewayHertz, the Company entered into an employment agreement with the selling shareholder and certain key employees by which the Company granted 439,453 restricted stock units, with either both performance and service requirements or just service requirements at a grant-date fair value of $25.86 per share with four year vesting terms. For the year ended December 26, 2025, the Company recorded $2.9 million of non-cash stock compensation expense.
The Company recorded restricted stock units-based compensation expense of $30.6 million, $19.5 million and $10.7 million in 2025, 2024, and 2023 respectively, which is included in stock compensation expense, based on the vesting provisions of the restricted stock units and the fair value of the stock on the grant date. As of December 26, 2025, there was $23.8 million of total restricted stock unit compensation expense related to the unvested awards not yet recognized, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.9 years. The Company accounts for certain restricted stock units under liability accounting as a result of the fixed monetary amount and a variable number of shares that will be issued.
Forfeitures for all of the Company’s outstanding equity awards are recognized as incurred.
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 27, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Feb 28, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Mar 1, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Mar 3, 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.