Share-Based Payments
Compensation expense related to the Company’s share-based awards was as follows:
 
Years ended November 30,
(In thousands)
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Total compensation expense for nonvested share-based awards
$
86,940

 
72,655

 
61,356


The fair value of nonvested shares is determined based on the trading price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. The weighted average fair value of nonvested shares granted during the years ended November 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $48.26, $55.84 and $51.92, respectively. A summary of the Company’s nonvested shares activity for the year ended November 30, 2019 was as follows:
 
Shares
 
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested shares at November 30, 2018
2,737,352

 
$
52.37

Grants
2,081,935

 
$
48.26

Vested
(1,421,613
)
 
$
50.43

Forfeited
(106,811
)
 
$
51.50

Nonvested shares at November 30, 2019
3,290,863

 
$
50.64


At November 30, 2019, there was $110.1 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested share-based awards granted under the Company’s share-based payment plan, all of which relates to nonvested shares with a weighted average remaining contractual life of 1.8 years. For the years ended November 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, 1.4 million, 2.2 million and 1.2 million nonvested shares, respectively, vested each year.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2019Jan 27, 2020Showing above
2018Jan 28, 2019
2017Jan 25, 2018
2016Jan 20, 2017
2015Jan 22, 2016

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.