Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Note 4 - Stock Based Compensation

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Note 4 - Stock Based Compensation
 6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]  
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]
Note 4.  Stock-Based Compensation

The Company recorded $280,839 and $564,466 of compensation expense related to current and past option grants, restricted stock grants and the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) for the three and six months ended March 31, 2015, respectively.  The Company recorded $186,209 and $374,369 of compensation expense related to current and past equity awards for the three and six months ended March 31, 2014, respectively.  This expense is included in selling, general and administrative expense.  As of March 31, 2015, $4,749,642 of total unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested equity awards is expected to be recognized over a period of approximately 9.6 years.

There were no stock options granted during the six month periods ended March 31, 2015 and March 31, 2014.  The following is a summary of stock option activity during the six months ended March 31, 2015:

   
Number of options
   
Weighted average exercise price
 
Outstanding at September 30, 2014
    373,051     $ 4.93  
Granted
    -       -  
Exercised
    (40,000 )     2.74  
Cancelled or Forfeited
    (1,000 )     6.36  
Outstanding at March 31, 2015
    332,051     $ 5.19  

The intrinsic value of an option is the amount by which the fair value of the underlying stock exceeds its exercise price.  As of March 31, 2015, the weighted average remaining contractual term for all outstanding stock options was 2.1 years and their aggregate intrinsic value was $3,196,987.  As of March 31, 2015, the weighted average remaining contractual terms of options that were exercisable was 2.2 years and their aggregate intrinsic value was $2,701,625.  During the six months ended March 31, 2015, the Company received proceeds of $28,967 from the exercise of stock options.  During the six months ended March 31, 2014, exercised stock options totaled 91,300 shares, resulting in $101,034 of proceeds to the Company.

Restricted Stock

The Company’s 2007 Stock Compensation Plan permits its Compensation Committee to grant stock-based awards, including stock options and restricted stock, to key employees and non-employee directors.  The Company has made restricted stock grants that vest over one to ten years.

During the six month period ended March 31, 2015, the Company granted non-employee directors restricted stock awards totaling 3,705 shares of common stock, with a vesting term of approximately one year and a fair value of $13.48 per share.  Additionally, the Company granted employees restricted stock awards totaling 3,000 shares of common stock, with a vesting term of ten years and a fair value of $13.33 per share.  During the six month period ended March 31, 2014, the Company granted non-employee directors restricted stock awards totaling 1,915 shares of common stock, with a vesting term of approximately one year and a fair value of $26.09 per share.  Restricted stock transactions during the six month period ended March 31, 2015 are summarized as follows:

   
Number of shares
   
Weighted average grant date fair value
 
Unvested shares at September 30, 2014
    518,515     $ 10.02  
Granted
    6,705       13.41  
Vested
    (1,915 )     26.09  
Forfeited
    (5,800 )     10.69  
Unvested at March 31, 2015
    517,505     $ 9.99  

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Clearfield, Inc.’s ESPP allows participating employees to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at a discount through payroll deductions.  The ESPP is available to all employees subject to certain eligibility requirements.  Terms of the ESPP provide that participating employees may purchase the Company’s common stock on a voluntary after-tax basis.  Employees may purchase the Company’s common stock at a price that is no less than 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 or phase.  The ESPP is carried out in six month phases, with phases beginning on January 1 and July 1 of each calendar year.  For the phases that ended on December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, employees purchased 10,097 and 10,920 shares at a price of $10.46 and $8.28 per share, respectively.  After the employee purchase on December 31, 2014, 175,559 shares of common stock were available for future purchase under the ESPP.