Stock-Based Compensation
3 Months Ended
Mar. 27, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]  
Stock-Based Compensation
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The Company maintains an equity incentive plan to govern awards granted to Vectrus employees and directors including nonqualified stock options (NQOs), incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units (RSUs) and other awards that may include, without limitation, unrestricted shares, the payment of shares in lieu of cash, the payment of cash based on attainment of performance goals, service conditions or other goals and the payment of shares in lieu of cash under other Company incentive or bonus programs. We account for NQOs and RSUs as equity-based compensation awards. Total shareholder return (TSR) awards described below and cash settled RSUs are accounted for as liability-based compensation awards.
The following table provides the impact of stock-based compensation in our unaudited condensed consolidated and combined statements of income:

 
Three Months Ended

 
March 27,
(In thousands)
 
2015
Compensation costs for equity-based awards
 
$
1,758

Compensation costs for liability-based awards
 
121

Total compensation costs, pre-tax
 
$
1,879

Future tax benefit
 
$
676


At March 27, 2015, total unrecognized compensation costs related to equity-based awards and liability-based awards were $7.3 million and $0.3 million, respectively, which are expected to be recognized ratably over a weighted average period of 1.74 years and 1.81 years, respectively.
The following table provides a summary of the activities for NQOs and RSUs for the three months ended March 27, 2015:

 
NQOs
 
RSUs
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
Shares
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share
 
Shares
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share
Outstanding at January 1, 2015
 
446

 
$17.43
 
423

 
$19.28
Granted
 
54

 
$32.04
 
68

 
$32.04
Exercised
 

 
$0.00
 

 
$0.00
Vested
 

 
$0.00
 
(80
)
 
$17.28
Forfeited or expired
 

 
$0.00
 

 
$0.00
Outstanding at March 27, 2015
 
500

 
$19.00
 
411

 
$21.78

During the three months ended March 27, 2015, we granted long-term incentive awards to employees consisting of 53,834 NQOs and 67,929 RSUs with respective weighted average grant date fair values per share of $12.65 and $32.04, respectively. The NQOs expire ten years from the date of the grant and vest in one-third increments over three years following the date of the grant. The fair value of each NQO grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Stock compensation expense will be recognized ratably over the vesting period of the awards. The RSUs vest in one-third increments on each of the three anniversary dates following the grant date. The fair value of the RSUs was determined based on the closing price of Vectrus common stock on the date of grant.
The fair value of stock options is determined on the date of grant utilizing a Black-Scholes valuation model. The following assumptions were utilized in deriving the fair value for NQOs granted on March 4, 2015 under the Black-Scholes model:
Expected volatility

34.2
%
Expected life (in years)

7.0

Risk-free rates

2.01
%
Weighted-average grant date fair value per share

$12.65

Total Shareholder Return Awards
TSR awards are granted, subject to a three-year performance period, and any payments earned are made in cash following completion of the performance period, according to the achievement of specified performance goals. TSR awards provide performance-based cash award incentives to our key employees. During the three months ended March 27, 2015, we granted 2015 TSR awards with an aggregate target value of $1.7 million. The TSRs will be cash settled at the end of a three-year performance period. The fair value of TSR awards is measured quarterly and based on the Company’s performance relative to the performance of the Aerospace and Defense companies in the S&P 1500 index. Depending on the Company’s performance during the three-year performance period, payment can range from 0% to 200% of the target value. As of March 27, 2015, the Company recorded less than $0.1 million in expense related to the 2015 TSR awards.