Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Note 4 - Stock-based Compensation

v3.7.0.1
Note 4 - Stock-based Compensation
9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Notes to Financial Statements  
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]
Note
4.
Stock-Based Compensation
 
The Company recorded
$590,419
and
$1,774,330
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, 2017,
respectively. For the
three
months ended
June 30, 2017,
$535,719
of this expense is included in selling, general and administrative expense, and
$54,700
is included in cost of sales. For the
nine
months ended
June 30, 2017,
$1,610,229
of this expense is included in selling, general and administrative expense, and
$164,101
is included in cost of sales. The Company recorded
$370,465
and
$843,658
of compensation expense related to current and past equity awards for the
three
and
nine
months ended
June 30, 2016,
respectively. For the
three
months ended
June 30, 2016,
$336,310
of this expense was included in selling, general and administrative expense, and
$34,155
was included in cost of sales. For the
nine
months ended
June 30, 2016,
$765,347
of this expense was included in selling, general and administrative expense, and
$78,311
was included in cost of sales. As of
June 30, 2017,
$5,750,033
of total unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested restricted stock awards is expected to be recognized over a period of approximately
7.3
years.
 
There were
no
stock options granted during the
nine
month periods ended
June 30, 2017
or
June 30, 2016.
The following is a summary of stock option activity during the
nine
months ended
June 30, 2017:
 
    Number of
options
  Weighted average
exercise price
Outstanding at September 30, 2016    
54,800
    $
3.13
 
   Granted    
-
     
-
 
   Exercised    
(15,850
)    
3.97
 
   Cancelled or Forfeited    
-
     
-
 
Outstanding at June 30, 2017    
38,950
    $
2.79
 
 
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, 2017,
the weighted average remaining contractual term for all outstanding and exercisable stock options was
3.0
years and their aggregate intrinsic value was
$405,657.
During the
nine
months ended
June 30, 2017,
the Company received proceeds of
$28,718
from the exercise of stock options. During the
nine
months ended
June 30, 2016,
exercised stock options totaled
172,450
shares, resulting in
$473,651
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, 2017,
the Company granted non-employee directors restricted stock awards totaling
3,795
shares of common stock, with a vesting term of approximately
one
year and a fair value of
$16.45
per share.
 
During the
nine
month period ended
June 30, 2016,
the Company granted non-employee directors restricted stock awards totaling
2,712
shares of common stock, with a vesting term of approximately
one
year and a fair value of
$14.73
per share. The Company also granted outgoing non-employee directors fully-vested stock awards totaling
1,356
shares of common stock, with a fair value of
$14.73
per share. Additionally, the Company granted employees restricted stock awards totaling
259,555
shares of common stock, with a vesting term of
three
to
five
years and a fair value of
$17.43
per share during the
nine
month period ended
June 30, 2016.
 
Restricted stock transactions during the
nine
month period ended
June 30, 2017
are summarized as follows:
    Number of
shares
  Weighted average grant
date fair value
Unvested shares at September 30, 2016    
563,570
    $
14.26
 
   Granted    
3,795
     
16.45
 
   Vested    
(88,814
)    
17.36
 
   Forfeited    
(7,952
)    
15.05
 
Unvested at June 30, 2017    
470,599
    $
13.68
 
 
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, 2017
and
December 31, 2016,
employees purchased
14,723
and
11,144
shares at a price of
$11.22
and
$15.21
per share, respectively. After the employee purchase on
June 30, 2017,
117,255
shares of common stock were available for future purchase under the ESPP.