Stock-Based Compensation
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 30, 2018
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]  
Stock-Based Compensation
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
We maintain an equity incentive plan (the 2014 Omnibus Plan) to govern awards granted to Vectrus employees and directors, including nonqualified stock options (NQOs), restricted stock units (RSUs), total shareholder return (TSR) awards and other awards. We account for NQOs and stock-settled RSUs as equity-based compensation awards. TSR awards, described below, and cash-settled RSUs are accounted for as liability-based compensation awards.
Stock-based compensation expense and the associated tax benefits impacting our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income were as follows:
(In thousands)

March 30, 2018
 
March 31, 2017
Compensation costs for equity-based awards

$
867

 
$
983

Compensation costs for liability-based awards

548

 
104

Total compensation costs, pre-tax

$
1,415

 
$
1,087

Future tax benefit

$
306

 
$
387


Liability-based awards are revalued at the end of each reporting period to reflect changes in fair value.
As of March 30, 2018, total unrecognized compensation costs related to equity-based awards and liability-based awards were $5.7 million and $3.1 million, respectively, which are expected to be recognized ratably over a weighted average period of 2.42 years and 2.31 years, respectively.

The following table provides a summary of the activities for NQOs and RSUs for the three months ended March 30, 2018:
 
 
NQOs
 
RSUs
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
Shares
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share
 
Shares
 
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share
Outstanding at January 1, 2018
 
325

 
$22.74
 
221

 
$23.58
Granted
 
—

 
—

 
122

 
$33.62
Exercised
 
(59
)
 
$22.04
 
—

 
—

Vested
 
—

 
—

 
(76
)
 
$23.45
Forfeited or expired
 
—

 
—

 
(7
)
 
$22.94
Outstanding at March 30, 2018
 
266

 
$22.89
 
260

 
$28.34


During the three months ended March 30, 2018, we granted long-term incentive awards to employees consisting of 121,931 RSUs with a weighted average grant date fair value per share of $33.62. For employee RSUs, one-third of the award vests on each of the three anniversary dates following the grant date. Director RSUs are granted on the date of an annual meeting of shareholders and vest on the business day immediately prior to the next annual meeting. The fair value of each RSU grant was determined based on the closing price of Vectrus common stock on the date of grant. Stock compensation expense will be recognized ratably over the vesting period of the awards.

Total Shareholder Return Awards

TSR awards are performance-based cash awards that are subject to a three-year performance period. Any payments earned are made in cash following completion of the performance period according to the achievement of specified performance goals. During the three months ended March 30, 2018, we granted 2018 TSR awards with aggregate target TSR value of $2.1 million. The fair value of TSR awards is measured quarterly and is 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, payments can range from 0% to 200% of the target value.