Stock Compensation Expense

Medium Practice Test

Intermediate Accounting 2

Medium Practice Test

Click the “Check Your Answer” box below each problem to reveal the correct answer and explanation.

1. The forfeiture rate is used to
a. reduce the fair market value of each stock option granted
b. reduce the total expense each period
c. reduce the exercise price to those that are awarded the options
d. none of the above
Answer

B. The company estimates a forfeiture rate that can be deducted from the total value of options issued and reduce the stock option expense over the vesting period. The fair market value of a stock option is determined using a mathematical model and is not impacted by forfeitures. The exercise price is set and is not impacted by forfeitures.

2. When recording the exercise of stock options
a. the cash that is paid by the company is equal to the exercise price times the number of options exercised
b. the amount of paid in capital – common stock that is recorded is equal to total value times the % of options that are exercised
c. the total amount of paid in capital – common stock is equal to the amount of cash received
d. the amount of paid in capital – stock option that is recorded is equal to total value of options granted times the % of options that are exercised
Answer

D. Cash equal to the exercise price x number of options exercised is received by the company from the employee (a.). Paid in capital – stock options is removed at the same rate (value per option) it was initially recorded. Common stock is recorded at par value x number of options exercised. Paid in capital – common stock is a plug to balance the entry.

3. Shares of stock awarded to employees are accounted for like
a. stock appreciation rights paid in stock issued to employees
b. stock options issued to employees
c. warrants issued to employees
d. all of the above
Answer

D. Common stock awards are accounted for like all of the above, which are all accounted for using the fair market value method of accounting for stock options.

4. The amount of liability reported on the balance sheet related to stock options is equal
a. to the total value of stock options granted
b. to the total expense each year times the number of years since the grant date
c. to the total value of common stock on the grant date
d. no liability is recorded related to stock options
Answer

D. Granting, expensing, or exercising stock options does not impact liabilities of the company. The obligation to sell the stock at the exercise price potentially increases shareholder’s equity and is not a liability.

5. Stock option expense is recorded
a. when the stock options are granted
b. when the stock options are exercised
c. over the time the employee works for the company and earns the right to exercise
d. none of the above
Answer

C. Stock option expense is recorded using the accrual basis, when earned by the employee over the time period worked.

6. When a stock option is earned by the employee over 4 years and has 9 years from the grant date to exercise the option, the vesting period is
a. 4 years
b. 9 years
c. 13 years
d. 5 years
Answer

A. The vesting period is the time the option is earned by the employee. 

7. Under a stock appreciation right, employees are compensated based on
a. how much the stock appreciates over a base price on the grant date
b. how much net income increases each period
c. the percentage increase in net income from the grant date
d. the increase to owner’s equity above the base amount on the grant date
Answer

A. A base price is stated in the stock appreciation right agreement. The employee is compensated based on how much higher the fair market value of common stock is than the base price that is stated in the agreement. Net income or book owner’s equity is not the basis of compensation.

8. GAAP recognizes
a. stock options have time value in addition to intrinsic value
b. stock option have intrinsic value only
c. no expense and reports stock options in the footnotes only
d. the company should make a choice to expense or disclose stock option expense
Answer

A. Intrinsic value is equal to the fair market value of the common stock less the exercise price. The time value is the expected future increase in the fair value of the common stock. Employees benefit from both intrinsic and time value.

9. Stock options that expire
a. reduce stock option expense
b. reduce the paid-in-capital stock option account
c. increase the paid in capital common stock account
d. both a. and b.
Answer

D. When stock options expire and are not exercised, the expense associated with those options may be reversed. Reversing reduces the expense and the paid in capital stock option account.

10. Which of the following is a true statement related to stock options?
a. a company may choose to disclose or expense the cost of stock options
b. stock option expense is recognized equally over the time the employee may exercise the stock option
c. paid in capital – common stock is always recorded for the amount of cash received on exercise
d. total paid in capital – stock options is recorded for the total value expected to be earned by the employees
Answer

D. Total value earned is divided by the vesting period and recorded as paid in capital in equal amounts as the employee earns it over the vesting period. FASB 123R requires the expense of the total value of stock options over the vesting period. The expense is recognized over the vesting period, not the exercise period (b.) Paid in capital – common stock is a plug amount and will not be equal to cash received unless the plug is equal to the cash received, which is highly unlikely. 

11. On January 1, of the current year, LHI Company established a stock option plan for its senior management. A total of 50,000 options were granted to management, giving them the option to purchase 50,000 shares of $1 par stock at an exercise price of $16 per share. The fair market value of LHI stock on the grant date was $18. Each option had a fair market value of $7 on the grant date. Options vest over a period of 3 years. 30% of the options were exercised at the beginning of the 4th year when the market price of LHI stock was $59.

A. Calculate the total value of the options and the expense for each year.
B. Prepare all required journal entries for 1) the grant date, 2) end of the 2nd year, and
3) the beginning of the 4th year

Answer

A. Compute total value granted and calculate annual expense

   FMV of the stock awarded $7
x # stock granted                   x   50,000
   Total Compensation value 350,000
/ Vesting period                            3 years
   Expense for each period 116,667

B. 1) Grant Date: No entry is made

2) End of the 2nd year:

Stock Option Expense                    116,667
           Paid In Capital – Stock Option      116,667

Beginning of the 4th year – 30% of options are exercised:

Paid In Capital – Stock Options          105,000
Cash                                                        240,000
             Common Stock                                        15,000
             Paid In Capital – Common Stock        330,000

PIC–Stock Options: remove the total value x 30% (350,000 x 30%)
Cash: 50,000 total options x 30% exercised x $16 exercise price
Common Stock: 15,000 options exercised x par value of $1
PIC – C. S is always a plug to balance

12. The company awarded 1.3 million shares of its $0.10 par value common stock to executives subject to forfeiture if employment is terminated within 2 years. The fair market value on the date of grant was $14 per share. The fair market value of the company’s common stock at the end of year 1 was $12 and at the end of year 2 was $16. The company expects executive turnover rate of 25% within the next 2 years. At the end of the 2nd year 90% of the expected shares were awarded.

Record all entries required for the stock compensation.

Answer

Stock awards are accounted for like stock option awards. Total value granted is expensed over the vesting period.

1st – Compute total value granted and calculate annual expense

   FMV of the stock awarded $14
x # stock granted                    x 1,300,000
   Total Compensation value 18,200,000
/ Vesting period                            2 years
   Value each period 9,100,000
     Expected Exercise %                        75%
  Expense each period 6,825,000

Ignore the change in fair market value

Grant Date:
No entry is made

End of the 1st year and end of the 2nd year:

Stock Compensation Expense       6,825,000
           C.S. – Restricted Shares                    6,825,000

End of 2nd year – Award of 90% of the shares:

Common Stock – Restricted Shares          12,285,000
              Common Stock                                                      87,750
              Paid in Capital – C.S.                                     12,197,250

When the shares are issued to employees the C.S. restricted is removed from the books for the total amount awarded.

(Total value 18,200,000 x 75% x 90% = 12,285,000)

Common stock is always par value x # shares,
PIC is a plug to balance
(1,300,000 x 75% x 90% = 877,500 shares x $0.10 par value)

Restricted shares that were not awarded below the estimated forfeiture amount are removed from the books and the expense is reversed

Common Stock – Restricted Shares           1,365,000
             Stock Compensation Expense                    1,365,000

6,825,000 x 2 = 13,650,000 x 10% not awarded

13. At the beginning of year 1, the company granted 100,000 stock appreciation rights that give employees the right to receive cash of $3 per share for each $1 the fair market value of the company’s stock is greater than $50 at the end of 2 years. The company expects about 10% of the rights to be forfeited. The fair market value of the company’s stock was as follows:

Beginning of year 1 $50
End of year 1 $52
End of year 2 $47

Record the journal entries required at the end of each year.

Answer
Year 1 Year 2
Fair Market Value of stock at the end of the period      52      47
– Base price in the agreement                                                       50        50 
Increase in value of stock since agreement        2       0
x number of SARs issued                                                          100,000 100,000
Total estimated amount to be paid at end of agreement 200,000        0
x $ for each $ increase         3         3
x years since plan started/vesting period                                          ½            2/2 
Cumulative expense to date 300,000         0
x 90% expected rate of award                                                         90%         90%
Estimated expense to date 270,000         0
Prior year expense                                                                                270,000
Current year expense 270,000 (270,000)

Year 1 – no entry at the grant date

Year 1 – end of period

Stock Appreciation Right Expense             270,000
           Stock Appreciation Right Liability                270,000

Year 2 – end of period

Stock Appreciation Right Liability                     270,000
           Stock Appreciation Right Expense                     270,000

The stock appreciation right liability account should equal the amount owed at the end of the plan which is 0 because the stock did not appreciate above the base price.

No payment is made to employees.