| STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |
NOTE 8 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY Common Stock Dividend On March 5, 2026, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.45 per share on the Company’s common stock, totaling approximately $9,816,000. The quarterly dividend was paid on April 6, 2026 to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 27, 2026. Dividend Reinvestment Plan The Company’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “DRP”), among other things, provides stockholders with the opportunity to reinvest all or a portion of their cash dividends paid on the Company’s common stock in additional shares of its common stock, at a discount, determined in the Company’s sole discretion, of up to 5% from the market price (as such price is calculated pursuant to the DRP). The discount is currently being offered at 3%. Under the DRP, the Company issued approximately 7,000 shares of common stock during each of the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively. Stock Repurchase Program The Board of Directors authorized a repurchase program pursuant to which the Company can repurchase shares of its common stock in open-market, through privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. No shares were repurchased by the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025. As of March 31, 2026, the Company is authorized to repurchase approximately $8,082,000 of shares of common stock. Stock Based Compensation The Company’s 2025, 2022 and 2019 Incentive Plans (collectively, the “Plans”), permit the Company to grant, among other things, stock options, restricted stock, RSUs, performance share awards and dividend equivalent rights and any one or more of the foregoing to its employees, officers, directors and consultants. A maximum of 750,000 shares of the Company’s common stock were authorized for issuance pursuant to each plan at such plan’s inception. The following details the shares subject to awards that are outstanding under the Plans as of March 31, 2026: | | | | | | | | | Restricted Stock | | RSUs | | Totals | 2025 Incentive Plan | | 154,455 | | 91,075 | | 245,530 | 2022 Incentive Plan (a) | | 445,970 | | 172,000 | | 617,970 | 2019 Incentive Plan (a) | | 143,825 | | — | | 143,825 | Totals | | 744,250 | | 263,075 | | 1,007,325 |
| (a) | No additional awards may be granted under such plans. |
Restricted Stock For accounting purposes, the restricted stock is not included in the shares shown as outstanding on the balance sheet until they vest; however, dividends are paid on the unvested shares. The restricted stock grants are charged to General and administrative expense over the respective vesting periods based on the market value of the common stock on the grant date. Unless earlier forfeited because the participant’s relationship with the Company terminated, unvested restricted stock awards vest five years from the grant date, and under certain circumstances may vest earlier. NOTE 8 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (CONTINUED) RSUs The following table reflects the RSUs outstanding as of March 31, 2026: | | | | | | | | | 2025 Grant | | 2024 Grant | | 2023 Grant | RSUs outstanding (a)(b) | | 91,075 | | 87,500 | | 84,500 | Vesting date (c)(d) | | 6/30/2028 | | 6/30/2027 | | 6/30/2026 |
| (a) | The shares underlying the RSUs are excluded from the shares shown as outstanding on the balance sheet until they have vested and been issued. |
| (b) | No shares were granted, vested or forfeited during the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025. |
| (c) | Generally, the recipient must maintain a relationship with the Company during the applicable three-year performance cycle. |
| (d) | RSUs vest upon satisfaction of metrics related to average annual total stockholder return (“TSR Metric”) and average annual return on capital (“ROC Metric”; together with the TSR Metric, the “Metrics”) and are issued to the extent the Compensation Committee determines that the Metrics with respect to the vesting of such shares have been satisfied. |
The Metrics and other material terms and conditions of the RSUs are as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Performance Criteria (a) | Year RSU Granted | | Metric | | Weight | | Minimum | | Maximum | 2023 - 2025 (b)(c) | | ROC Metric (d) | | 50% | | Average annual of at least 6.0% | | Average annual of at least 8.75% | | | TSR Metric (e) | | 50% | | Average annual of at least 6.0% | | Average annual of at least 11.0% |
| (a) | If the Metrics fall between the applicable minimum and maximum performance criteria, a pro-rata portion of such units (as calculated pursuant to the applicable award agreement), as applicable, vest. |
| (b) | The RSUs are not entitled to voting rights. |
| (c) | Upon vesting, the holders of such RSUs receive an amount equal to the dividends that would have been paid on the underlying shares had such shares been outstanding during the three-year performance cycle. As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the Company accrued an aggregate of $530,000 and $474,000 of dividend equivalents, respectively, for the unvested RSUs based on the number of shares, underlying such RSUs, that would have been issued using performance and market assumptions determined at such dates. |
| (d) | The ROC Metrics meet the definition of a performance condition. Fair value is based on the market value on the date of grant. For ROC Awards, the Company does not recognize expense when performance conditions are not expected to be met; such performance assumptions are re-evaluated quarterly. |
| (e) | The TSR Metrics meet the definition of a market condition. A third-party appraiser prepares a Monte Carlo simulation pricing model to determine the fair value of such awards, which is recognized ratably over the three-year service period. |
As of March 31, 2026, based on performance and market assumptions, the fair value of the RSUs granted in 2025, 2024 and 2023 is $1,240,000, $1,395,000, and $1,190,000, respectively. Recognition of such deferred compensation will be charged to General and administrative expense over the respective three-year performance cycles. NOTE 8 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (CONTINUED) The following is a summary of the activity of the Plans: | | | | | | | | | | | Three Months Ended | | | | | March 31, | | | | | 2026 | | 2025 | | | Restricted stock: | | | | | | | | | Number of shares granted | | | 161,285 | | | 154,390 | | | Average per share grant price | | $ | 21.17 | | $ | 25.52 | | | Deferred compensation to be recognized over vesting period | | $ | 3,414,000 | | $ | 3,940,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | Number of non-vested shares: | | | | | | | | | Non-vested beginning of the period | | | 728,795 | | | 727,140 | | | Grants | | | 161,285 | | | 154,390 | | | Vested during the period | | | (145,830) | | | (139,300) | | | Forfeitures | | | — | | | (60) | | | Non-vested end of the period | | | 744,250 | | | 742,170 | | | | | | | | | | | | RSUs (a): | | | | | | | | | Number of non-vested shares: | | | | | | | | | Non-vested beginning of the period | | | 263,075 | | | 256,740 | | | Grants | | | — | | | — | | | Vested during the period | | | — | | | — | | | Forfeitures | | | — | | | — | | | Non-vested end of the period | | | 263,075 | | | 256,740 | | | | | | | | | | | | Restricted stock and RSU grants (based on grant price): | | | | | | | | | Weighted average per share value of non-vested shares | | $ | 24.39 | | $ | 24.52 | | | Value of stock vested during the period | | $ | 2,972,000 | | $ | 3,914,000 | | | Weighted average per share value of shares forfeited during the period | | $ | — | | $ | 25.52 | | | | | | | | | | | | Total charge to operations: | | | | | | | | | Outstanding restricted stock grants | | $ | 1,038,000 | | $ | 938,000 | | | Outstanding RSUs | | | 229,000 | | | 408,000 | | | Total charge to operations | | $ | 1,267,000 | | $ | 1,346,000 | | |
| (a) | There were no RSUs granted during the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025. |
As of March 31, 2026, total compensation costs of $9,772,000 and $1,620,000 related to non-vested restricted stock awards and RSUs, respectively, have not yet been recognized. These compensation costs will be charged to General and administrative expense over the remaining respective vesting periods. The weighted average remaining vesting period is 2.8 years for the restricted stock and 1.3 years for the RSUs. The Company recognizes the effect of forfeitures on restricted stock awards and RSUs when they occur, and previously recognized compensation expense is reversed in the period the grant or unit is forfeited.
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