TJX COMPANIES INC /DE/TJX
TJX COMPANIES INC /DE/ Stock Compensation Disclosure
Stock Incentive Plan
TJX has a Stock Incentive Plan under which options and other share-based awards may be granted to its directors, officers and key employees. The number of shares authorized for issuance under this plan has been approved by TJX’s shareholders, and all share-based compensation awards are made under this plan. The Stock Incentive Plan, as amended with shareholder approval, has provided for the issuance of up to 723 million shares with 36 million shares available for future grants as of January 31, 2026. TJX issues shares under the plan from authorized but unissued common stock.
Total compensation cost related to share-based compensation was $214 million, $183 million and $160 million in fiscal 2026, 2025 and 2024, respectively. As of January 31, 2026, there was $242 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the plan. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2 years.
Stock Options
Options for the purchase of common stock are granted with an exercise price that is 100% of market price on the grant date, generally vest in thirds over a 3-year period starting 1 year after the grant, and have a 10-year maximum term. When options are granted with other vesting terms, the vesting information is reflected in the valuation.
The fair value of options is estimated as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:
| Fiscal Year Ended | |||||||||||
| January 31, 2026 | February 1, 2025 | February 3, 2024 | |||||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | 3.62 | % | 3.47 | % | 4.51 | % | |||||
Dividend yield | 1.2 | % | 1.3 | % | 1.5 | % | |||||
| Expected volatility factor | 25.0 | % | 24.4 | % | 24.1 | % | |||||
| Expected option life | 5.5 years | 5.5 years | 5.5 years | ||||||||
| Weighted average fair value of options issued | $ | 36.90 | $ | 29.86 | $ | 24.62 | |||||
The risk-free interest rate is for periods within the contractual life of the option based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The Company uses historical data to estimate option exercises, employee termination behavior and dividend yield within the valuation model. Expected volatility is based on a combination of implied volatility from traded options on the Company’s stock, and historical volatility during a term approximating the expected life of the option granted. The expected option life represents an estimate of the period of time options are expected to remain outstanding based upon historical exercise trends. Employee groups and option characteristics are considered separately for valuation purposes, when applicable.
A summary of the status of TJX’s stock options and related weighted average exercise prices (“WAEP”) is presented below:
| Fiscal Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| January 31, 2026 | February 1, 2025 | February 3, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Shares in millions | Options | WAEP | Options | WAEP | Options | WAEP | ||||||||||||||
| Outstanding at beginning of year | 31 | $ | 68.26 | 35 | $ | 58.65 | 37 | $ | 51.88 | |||||||||||
| Granted | 4 | 140.04 | 4 | 117.25 | 5 | 91.00 | ||||||||||||||
| Exercised | (6) | 54.42 | (8) | 48.35 | (7) | 43.39 | ||||||||||||||
| Forfeitures | (0) | 99.75 | (0) | 82.98 | (0) | 68.32 | ||||||||||||||
| Outstanding at end of year | 29 | $ | 79.28 | 31 | $ | 68.26 | 35 | $ | 58.65 | |||||||||||
| Options exercisable at end of year | 21 | $ | 64.31 | 23 | $ | 56.87 | 25 | $ | 50.64 | |||||||||||
The total intrinsic value of options exercised was $476 million in fiscal 2026, $466 million in fiscal 2025 and $278 million in fiscal 2024.
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding that were expected to vest and stock options outstanding that were exercisable as of January 31, 2026:
Shares (in millions) | Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in millions) | Weighted Average Remaining Contract Life | WAEP | |||||||||||
Options outstanding expected to vest(a) | 7 | $ | 193 | 8.9 years | $ | 121.84 | ||||||||
| Options exercisable | 21 | 1,825 | 4.9 years | 64.31 | ||||||||||
| Total outstanding options vested and expected to vest | 28 | $ | 2,018 | 5.9 years | $ | 78.38 | ||||||||
(a)Reflects 7 million unvested options, net of anticipated forfeitures.
Stock Awards
TJX grants restricted stock units and performance share units under the Stock Incentive Plan. Restricted stock units and performance share units are collectively referred to as stock awards. These stock awards were granted without a purchase price to the recipient and are subject to vesting conditions. Vesting conditions for performance share units include specified performance criteria, generally for a period of fiscal years. The grant date fair value of the stock awards is charged to income over the requisite service period, generally three years, during which the recipient must remain employed. The fair value of the stock awards is determined at date of grant in accordance with ASC Topic 718 and, for performance share units, assumes that performance goals will be achieved at target. Performance share units and related compensation costs recognized are adjusted, as applicable, for performance above or below the target specified in the award.
There were no significant modifications to stock awards in fiscal 2026, fiscal 2025 or fiscal 2024.
A summary of the status of the Company’s non-vested stock awards and changes during fiscal 2026 is presented below:
| In thousands except grant date fair value | Restricted Stock Units | Performance Share Units | Total Stock Awards | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | ||||||||||
| Nonvested at beginning of year | 1,141 | 1,071 | 2,212 | $ | 76.82 | |||||||||
| Granted | 263 | 265 | 528 | 121.80 | ||||||||||
| Vested | (394) | (425) | (819) | 62.34 | ||||||||||
| Forfeited | (63) | (53) | (116) | 93.16 | ||||||||||
| Nonvested at end of year | 947 | 858 | 1,805 | $ | 95.51 | |||||||||
A summary of units granted and the weighted average grant date fair value for total stock awards over the previous two fiscal years is presented below:
| Fiscal Year Ended | ||||||||
| In thousands except grant date fair value | February 1, 2025 | February 3, 2024 | ||||||
| Granted | 592 | 694 | ||||||
| Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | $ | 99.47 | $ | 76.21 | ||||
The fair value of awards that vested was $51 million in fiscal 2026, $46 million in fiscal 2025 and $48 million in fiscal 2024.
The nonvested performance share units are based on the target level of performance achievement under the awards. The actual payout of performance share units will depend on performance results for the award cycle.
Other Awards
TJX also awards deferred shares to its outside directors under the Stock Incentive Plan. As of January 31, 2026, a total of 360 thousand of these deferred shares were outstanding under the plan.
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Mar 31, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2025 | Apr 2, 2025 | |
| 2024 | Apr 3, 2024 | |
| 2023 | Mar 29, 2023 | |
| 2022 | Mar 30, 2022 | |
| 2021 | Mar 31, 2021 | |
| 2018 | Apr 4, 2018 | |
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.