Annual report [Section 13 and 15(d), not S-K Item 405]

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

v3.25.4
Stock-Based Compensation Plans
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Noncash Expense [Abstract]  
Stock-Based Compensation Plans Stock-Based Compensation Plans
The VSE Corporation 2006 Restricted Stock Plan, as amended (the "2006 Plan"), provides for the issuance of equity-based and cash-based compensation awards to the Company's employees and non-employee directors. The types of awards issued under the 2006 Plan include stock-settled bonus awards, time-vested stock awards, and performance share awards. The total number of shares authorized for issuance under the 2006 Plan was 2,675,000, of which 1,114,532 shares remained available for issuance as of December 31, 2025.

Stock-settled bonus awards are fixed dollar-denominated awards. On the first anniversary of the grant date, the total fixed dollar value of the award is converted into shares based on the Company's closing stock price on the date of conversion. These awards vest over a three-year service period in three equal tranches. Beginning with the 2023 stock-settled bonus awards, the first tranche vests one year following the conversion of the award into shares. On each vesting date, 100% of the vested award is settled in shares. Compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for each tranche, resulting in an accelerated pattern for the overall award.

Time-vested stock awards generally vest in equal annual installments over a three-year service period beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date. Directors receive annual stock grants as part of their compensation, which vest immediately upon grant.
The Company grants performance share awards to certain employees under the 2006 Plan. These awards represent the right to receive shares upon the satisfaction of specified service requirements and performance conditions. Performance share awards vest ratably in equal annual installments over a three-year period on the anniversary of each grant date, subject to meeting minimum service requirements and achievement of certain annual or cumulative financial metrics of the Company's performance. The number of shares ultimately issuable ranges from 0% to 200% of the specified target shares, based on the level of performance achieved. If performance falls below the minimum threshold, no shares will be issued. For all performance share awards granted, the annual and cumulative financial metrics are based on the Company's achievement of a specified adjusted EBITDA target.

In 2021, the Company established the VSE Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("ESPP") to allow eligible employees to purchase shares of the Company's common stock at a discount of up to 15% of fair market value on specified dates. For ESPP offerings during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, the purchase price was at a discount of 12% off the lesser of the fair market value on the offering date or the purchase date. As a result, the Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $0.1 million in each of these years. As of December 31, 2025, 500,000 shares of common stock were authorized for issuance under the ESPP, of which 419,996 shares remained available for issuance.

Expense and Related Tax Benefits Recognized

Stock-based compensation expense is included within products and services costs on the consolidated statements of operations. The total stock-based compensation expense and related tax benefits recognized related to stock-based compensation were as follows (in thousands):
For the years ended December 31,
  2025 2024 2023
Stock-settled bonus awards $ 900  $ 273  $ 856 
Time-vested stock awards
5,606  3,583  2,482 
Performance share awards
6,386  4,151  3,407 
   Total
$ 12,892  $ 8,007  $ 6,745 
Tax benefits recognized
$ 3,217  $ 1,998  $ 1,683 

Stock-Settled Bonus Awards

In March 2025, employees eligible for the 2024 awards, 2023 awards, and the 2022 awards received a total of 3,298 shares of common stock. The grant-date fair value of these awards for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 was $113.97, $75.12, and $42.23 per share, respectively. Total stock-based compensation expense related to non-vested stock-settled bonus awards not yet recognized was approximately $1.4 million with a weighted average amortization period of 2.2 years as of December 31, 2025. The total fair value of stock-settled bonus awards that vested in the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 was $0.4 million, $0.7 million, and $1.2 million, respectively.

Time-Vested Stock Awards

Time-vested stock award activity for the year ended December 31, 2025 was:
Number of Shares
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested as of December 31, 2024 119,460 $ 67.16 
Granted 64,165  $ 115.64 
Vested (51,798) $ 61.84 
Forfeited (8,047) $ 59.37 
Unvested as of December 31, 2025 123,780 $ 95.03 

The grant date fair value of time-vested stock awards is based on the closing market price of the Company's common stock on grant date. The weighted average grant date fair value of the time-vested stock awards granted for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 was $115.64, $79.30, and $45.78, respectively. As of December 31, 2025 there was $7.3 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to time-vested stock awards, which is expected to be
recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.9 years. The total fair value of time-vested stock awards that vested in the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 was $6.6 million, $3.7 million, and $1.2 million, respectively.

Performance Share Awards

Performance Share award activity for the year ended December 31, 2025 was:
Number of Shares
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested as of December 31, 2024 110,157 $ 54.20 
Granted 35,614  $ 116.92 
Vested (67,696) $ 55.48 
Forfeited (7,408) $ 65.47 
Performance award achievement adjustments (a)
12,117 $ 77.76 
Unvested as of December 31, 2025 82,784 $ 82.57 
(a) Represents the difference between the target shares granted and the actual shares awarded based upon the attainment of performance goals for the Company.

The actual number of shares to be issued upon vesting range between 0-200% of the target number of shares granted. The weighted average grant date fair value of the performance share awards granted for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 was $116.92, $77.54, and $42.23, respectively. As of December 31, 2025 there was $4.7 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to performance share awards, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.4 years. The total fair value of performance share awards that vested in the year ended December 31, 2025 was $7.8 million.