Stock-based Compensation

On February 7, 2022, our board of directors approved the 2022 Stock Option Plan (the “2022 Plan”). The board’s adoption of the 2022 Plan was approved by the shareholders during the annual stockholders' meeting on August 23, 2022. The 2022 Plan provides that the maximum aggregate number of shares of common stock underlying options that may be granted under the 2022 Plan is 300,000. The options granted under the 2022 Plan may be either incentive stock options or non-qualified options. The 2022 Plan is administered by the compensation committee of the board of directors. The compensation committee has the exclusive power to select individuals to receive grants, to establish the terms of the options granted to each participant, provided that all options granted shall be granted at an exercise price not less than the fair market value of the common stock covered by the option on the grant date, and to make all determinations necessary or advisable under the 2022 Plan. On February 9, 2022, the board of directors approved a grant of 50,000 stock options each to six members of management subject to the approval of the 2022 Plan.

Stock-based compensation expense for fiscal 2024, 2023, and 2022, which is included in corporate segment selling, general and administrative expenses, amounted to $1.9 million, $2.6 million, and $2.4 million, respectively, with related tax benefit amounting to $444,000, $616,000, and $569,000, respectively. As of September 30, 2024, we had unrecognized compensation cost amounting to $2.6 million related to stock-based compensation awards granted, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.4 years.

The February 9, 2022 stock options vest over four years with the first 20% having vested on the approval of the 2022 Plan at the 2022 annual stockholders' meeting on August 23, 2022, and 20% vesting on February 9 of each year thereafter, provided however that the options will be subject to earlier vesting under certain events set forth in the Plan, including without limitation a change in control. All of the options will expire, if not vested, at the end of five years. The weighted average grant-date fair value of the stock options was $31.37. No stock options were exercised in fiscal 2024, 2023, and 2022.

The following table summarizes information about stock option activity during fiscal 2024 under the 2022 Plan:


	Number of Shares	Weighted-Average Exercise Price		Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)
Outstanding at September 30, 2023	300,000	$	100.00
Granted	—
Outstanding at September 30, 2024	300,000	$	100.00	2.4	$	—

Exercisable at September 30, 2024	180,000	$	100.00	2.4	$	—

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.

RCI HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS, INC. Stock Compensation Disclosure

About Stock Compensation Disclosures

Other Available Disclosures