Stock-Based Compensation | NOTE M – Stock-Based Compensation Our equity compensation plans provide for the grant of incentive and nonqualified stock options, as well as other stock-based awards including restricted stock and RSUs, to employees, non-employee directors and other consultants who provide services to us. RSAs result in the issuance of new shares when granted. For other stock-based awards, new shares are issued when the award is exercised, vested or released according to the terms of the agreement. In February 2019, January 2018 and February 2017, 2,081,488, 2,055,240 and 2,049,736 additional shares, respectively, were reserved for future issuance under our 2010 Equity Incentive Plan. At December 31, 2019, there were approximately 12.1 million shares available for grant under approved equity compensation plans During the year ended December 31, 2017, stock-based compensation expense included a one-time $3.6 million charge due to a modification to our Chief Executive Officer’s employment agreement which resulted in immediate vesting, and expensing, of his outstanding stock-based compensation awards based on his retirement eligibility. Stock-based compensation expense was allocated as follows (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 Cost of revenues $ 2,819 $ 2,168 $ 1,887 Operating expenses Sales and marketing 2,946 2,675 2,197 Research and development 2,651 1,505 949 General and administrative 6,274 6,162 7,694 Total stock-based compensation expense $ 14,690 $ 12,510 $ 12,727 Stock-based compensation expense by type was as follows (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 Stock Options $ 3,211 $ 3,355 $ 5,223 Performance Share Units 1,379 1,034 — Restricted Stock Units 7,553 5,930 6,526 Restricted Stock Awards 519 487 318 Employee Stock Purchase Plan 701 466 660 401K Stock Match 1,327 1,238 — Total stock-based compensation expense $ 14,690 $ 12,510 $ 12,727 As of December 31, 2019, there was approximately $18.7 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense under our equity compensation plans, which is expected to be recognized on a straight-line basis over a weighted-average period of 2.5 years. Stock Options Stock options generally vest over four years and have a contractual term of seven to ten years from the date of grant. Our stock option activity was as follows: Weighted Average Options Exercise Price (#) ($/share) Outstanding at December 31, 2016 2,032,024 22.36 Granted 345,394 27.94 Exercised (131,004 ) 10.77 Forfeited (51,752 ) 27.97 Outstanding at December 31, 2017 2,194,662 23.80 Granted 362,944 29.94 Exercised (688,668 ) 20.83 Forfeited (122,470 ) 28.34 Outstanding at December 31, 2018 1,746,468 25.93 Granted 184,434 53.92 Exercised (346,098 ) 21.98 Forfeited (40,892 ) 30.74 Outstanding at December 31, 2019 1,543,912 30.03 Of the total outstanding options at December 31, 2019, 1,160,714 The table below presents the intrinsic value of options exercised and outstanding and factors related to our stock options (in thousands, except per share data): Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 Fair value of options vested $ 3,393 $ 3,689 $ 4,227 Intrinsic value of options exercised 11,103 14,852 2,752 Intrinsic value of options outstanding 39,194 26,654 7,312 Weighted-average fair value per share of options granted 16.86 9.74 9.43 The fair values of the options granted were estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions: Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 Volatility 33 % 35 % 38 % Dividend yield — — — Life (in years) 4.43 4.44 4.51 Risk-free interest rate 2.41 % 2.54 % 1.85 % The expected volatility of the options is based on the historical volatility of our common stock. We have not issued dividends on our common stock and do not expect to do so in the foreseeable future. The expected term of the options is based on the simplified method which does not consider historical employee exercise behavior. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury rates at the date of grant with maturity dates approximately equal to the expected life at the grant date. Performance Share Units and Restricted Stock Units and Awards In February 2019 and 2018, our executive officers were granted PSU awards with vesting contingent on the Company’s total shareholder return as compared to indexed total shareholder return over the course of a three-year In February 2017, our executive officers were granted PSU awards with vesting contingent on successful attainment of pre-determined revenue targets over the course of a three-year RSUs vest over four years and, upon vesting, the holder is entitled to receive shares of our common stock. With RSAs, shares of our common stock are issued when the award is granted and the restrictions lapse over one year. Our PSU and RSU activity was as follows: Weighted Average PSUs and RSUs Grant Date Fair (#) Value ($/share) Outstanding at December 31, 2016 378,084 27.07 Granted 422,336 27.81 Vested and common stock issued (129,900 ) 26.82 Forfeited (26,696 ) 27.70 Outstanding at December 31, 2017 643,824 27.58 Granted 345,590 33.02 Vested and common stock issued (163,122 ) 28.16 Forfeited (71,622 ) 27.52 Outstanding at December 31, 2018 754,670 29.95 Granted 278,622 55.83 Vested and common stock issued (206,380 ) 30.20 Forfeited (31,826 ) 34.67 Outstanding at December 31, 2019 795,086 38.76 The number of PSUs and RSUs outstanding at December 31, 2019 included 124,786 Our RSA activity was as follows: Weighted Average RSAs Grant Date Fair (#) Value ($/share) Outstanding at December 31, 2016 3,048 26.14 Restricted common stock issued 10,908 29.15 Restrictions lapsed (11,220 ) 28.33 Outstanding at December 31, 2017 2,736 29.15 Restricted common stock issued 14,608 37.22 Restrictions lapsed (13,680 ) 35.60 Outstanding at December 31, 2018 3,664 37.22 Restricted common stock issued 9,840 51.80 Restrictions lapsed (11,044 ) 46.96 Outstanding at December 31, 2019 2,460 51.80 Employee Stock Purchase Plan We have an employee stock purchase plan which allows participating employees to purchase shares of our common stock at a discount through payroll deductions. The plan is available to all employees subject to certain eligibility requirements. Participating employees may purchase common stock, on a voluntary after-tax basis, at a price that is the lower of 85% of the fair market value of one share of common stock at the beginning or end of each stock purchase period. The plan consists of two six-month offering periods, beginning on January 1 and July 1 of each calendar year. A total of 1.9 shares of common stock are remaining for issuance under the plan at December 31, 2019. Our ESPP activity was as follows (in thousands, except share data): Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 Withholdings for share purchases $ 2,270 $ 1,745 $ 1,933 Shares purchased 58,851 69,596 81,936 The fair value was estimated based on the market price of our common stock at the beginning of each offering period and using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions: Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 2017 Volatility 36 % 26 % 32 % Dividend yield — — — Life (in years) 0.50 0.50 0.50 Risk-free interest rate 2.36 % 1.77 % 0.90 % |