Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Note 4 - Stock-based Compensation

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Note 4 - Stock-based Compensation
9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements  
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]
Note 4. Stock-Based Compensation
 
The Company recorded $280,526 and $844,992 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 nine months ended June 30, 2015, respectively. The Company recorded $191,136 and $565,505 of compensation expense related to current and past equity awards for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2014, respectively. This expense is included in selling, general and administrative expense. As of June 30, 2015, $4,480,544 of total unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested equity awards is expected to be recognized over a period of approximately 9.3 years.
There were no stock options granted during the nine month periods ended June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2014. The following is a summary of stock option activity during the nine months ended June 30, 2015:
 
    Number of
options
 
Weighted average
exercise price
Outstanding at September 30, 2014     373,051     $ 4.93  
Granted     —         —    
Exercised     (42,000 )     2.92  
Cancelled or Forfeited     (2,500 )     6.36  
Outstanding at June 30, 2015     328,551     $ 5.18  
 
The intrinsic value of an option is the amount by which the fair value of the underlying stock exceeds its exercise price. As of June 30, 2015, the weighted average remaining contractual term for all outstanding stock options was 1.8 years and their aggregate intrinsic value was $3,525,546. As of June 30, 2015, the weighted average remaining contractual terms of options that were exercisable was 1.9 years and their aggregate intrinsic value was $2,981,443. During the nine months ended June 30, 2015, the Company received proceeds of $41,688 from the exercise of stock options. During the nine months ended June 30, 2014, exercised stock options totaled 456,850 shares, resulting in $618,848 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 nine month period ended June 30, 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, during the nine month period ended June 30, 2015, 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 nine month period ended June 30, 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. Additionally, during the nine month period ended June 30, 2014, the Company granted employees restricted stock awards totaling 10,000 shares of common stock, with a vesting term of five years and a fair value of $16.47 per share. Restricted stock transactions during the nine month period ended June 30, 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     (3,915 )     20.51  
Forfeited     (12,500 )     10.28  
Unvested at June 30, 2015     508,805     $ 9.97  
 
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 June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, employees purchased 10,119 and 10,097 shares, respectively, at a price of $10.46 per share. After the employee purchase on June 30, 2015, 165,440 shares of common stock were available for future purchase under the ESPP.