v3.26.1
Share-based compensation
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2026
Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]  
Share-based compensation Share-based compensation
The Company grants share-based compensation awards that can be broadly characterized by the underlying vesting conditions as follows:
Time vested, restricted stock units (“RSU”) vest over time. RSU awards granted prior to October 2024 cliff vest, typically at the end of three years. RSU awards granted in October 2024 and beyond will vest in equal, annual installments over three years. The fair value of these awards is based on the closing share price on the date of grant.
Multiple metric performance stock units granted to certain members of management (“PSU-EX”) typically vest following three-year performance cycles. The number of shares issued will vary based upon the Company’s performance against pre-determined goals for adjusted EPS growth (diluted), return on capital employed (“ROCE”) and relative total shareholder return (“rTSR”). The fair value of awards vesting based upon EPS growth (diluted) and ROCE are equal to the closing share price on the date of grant and the fair value of rTSR awards are determined using a Monte-Carlo simulation. The assumptions used in the Monte Carlo simulations for the rTSR granted in 2026 were as follows:
Three months ended
March 31,
rTSR Fair value assumptions:2026
Expected annualized volatility29.48 %
Risk free interest rate3.75 %
Simulation period2.8 years
Grant date fair value of rTSR awards$237.16 
The following table summarizes the share-based incentive awards activity for the three months ended March 31, 2026:
Number of sharesWeighted average grant date fair value
Outstanding as of December 31, 2025
712,184 $191.67 
RSU awards granted234,808 219.73 
PSU-EX granted89,457 225.54 
Share adjustments based on performance(21,836)255.62 
Vested(2,860)169.26 
Forfeited(6,492)198.34 
Outstanding as of March 31, 2026
1,005,261 $199.74 
The following table relates to all share-based compensation awards:
Three months ended
March 31,
(In millions)20262025
Share-based compensation expense (within SG&A)$15 $9 
Income tax benefit
Total unrecognized share-based compensation expense for all share-based payment plans was $152 million at March 31, 2026, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.4 years.
Stock Options
The Company grants stock option awards to certain members of management with an exercise price equal to the closing share price of the Company's common stock on the last trading day prior to the date of grant. These options vest and become exercisable over three years, in equal, annual installments beginning one year from the date of grant, and expire 10 years from the date of grant.
The fair value of the Company's stock options was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. When determining expected volatility, the Company considers the historical volatility of the Company’s stock price. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant, based on the options’ expected term. The expected term of the options was estimated using the “simplified method” as permitted under Staff Accounting Bulletin 110. We consider the use of the simplified method appropriate due to the lack of sufficient historical data.
The assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model in 2026 were as follows:
Three months ended
March 31,
Stock option fair value assumptions used:2026
Expected annualized volatility32.14 %
Dividend yield1.54 %
Risk free interest rate3.89 %
Expected term6 years
Grant date fair value of stock option awards$75.22 
Stock option activity in 2026 is summarized in the following table:
Number of sharesWeighted average exercise price per share
Aggregate intrinsic value
(in millions)
Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)
Outstanding as of December 31, 2025
83,316 $211.52 
Granted61,416 231.63 
Outstanding as of March 31, 2026
144,732 $220.06 $2 9.3
Exercisable as of March 31, 2026
19,793 $201.38 $1 8.5