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

Stock-based compensation

v3.26.1
Stock-based compensation
12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2026
Stock-based compensation  
Stock-based compensation

15.  Stock-based compensation

The Company’s equity incentive plan was adopted in order to attract and retain personnel for positions of substantial authority and to provide additional incentive to employees and directors to promote the success of the business.

The Amended and Restated 2011 Incentive Award Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance awards, dividend equivalent rights, stock payments, deferred stock, and cash-based awards to employees, consultants, and directors. Unless provided otherwise by the administrator of the plan, options vest ratably over four years at the rate of 25% per year from the date of grant and must be exercised within ten years. Options are granted with the exercise price equal to the fair value of the underlying stock on the date of grant. As of January 31, 2026, the plan reserves for the issuance upon grant or exercise of awards up to 1,781 shares of common stock.

The following table presents information related to stock-based compensation:

Fiscal Year Ended

January 31,

February 1,

February 3,

(In thousands)

  ​ ​ ​

2026

  ​ ​ ​

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2024

Stock options

$

8,089

$

9,188

$

7,429

Restricted stock units

21,481

19,863

19,724

Performance-based restricted stock units

7,856

13,736

21,093

Total stock-based compensation expense

$

37,426

$

42,787

$

48,246

Cash received from stock option exercises

$

32,562

$

12,339

$

12,176

Income tax benefit

$

63

$

4,891

$

7,167

Stock options

Stock-based compensation expense is measured on the grant date based on the fair value of the award. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for awards expected to vest. The estimated grant date fair value of stock options was determined using a Black-Scholes valuation model using the following weighted-average assumptions for the periods indicated:

  ​ ​ ​

Fiscal Year Ended

January 31,

February 1,

February 3,

  ​ ​ ​

2026

  ​ ​ ​

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2024

Volatility rate

 

34.0%

33.0%

45.0%

Average risk-free interest rate

 

3.9%

4.4%

3.8%

Average expected life (in years)

 

3.4

 

3.5

 

3.4

Dividend yield

 

 

 

The expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock. The risk-free interest rate is based on the United States Treasury yield curve in effect on the date of grant for the respective expected life of the option. The expected life represents the time the options granted are expected to be outstanding. The expected life of options granted is derived from historical data on Company stock option exercises. Forfeitures of stock options are estimated at the grant date based on historical rates of stock option activity and reduce the stock-based compensation expense recognized. The Company does not currently pay a regular dividend.

The following table presents information related to common stock options:

Fiscal Year Ended

January 31,

February 1,

February 3,

(In thousands, except weighted-average grant date fair value)

  ​ ​ ​

2026

  ​ ​ ​

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2024

Weighted-average grant date fair value

$

377.73

$

157.66

$

199.15

Fair value of options vested

6,612

7,992

7,169

Intrinsic value of options exercised

32,212

12,673

15,509

At January 31, 2026, there was approximately $14,195 of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested stock options. The unrecognized stock-based compensation expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately two and a half years.

A summary of stock option activity is presented in the following table (shares in thousands):

Fiscal 2025

Fiscal 2024

Fiscal 2023

Weighted-

Weighted-

Weighted-

  ​ ​ ​

Number of

average

Number of

average

Number of

average

  ​ ​ ​

options

  ​ ​ ​

exercise price

  ​ ​ ​

options

  ​ ​ ​

exercise price

  ​ ​ ​

options

  ​ ​ ​

exercise price

Beginning of year

299

$

349.12

307

$

303.47

324

$

260.34

Granted

144

377.73

56

522.88

42

541.39

Exercised

(133)

245.14

(52)

239.61

(54)

223.59

Forfeited/Expired

(20)

410.76

(12)

465.19

(5)

382.48

End of year

290

$

405.98

299

$

349.12

307

$

303.47

Exercisable at end of year

97

$

377.10

188

$

270.15

154

$

264.87

Vested and Expected to vest

278

$

405.27

292

$

345.55

297

$

302.05

The following table presents information related to stock options outstanding and stock options exercisable at January 31, 2026 based on ranges of exercise prices (shares in thousands):

Options outstanding

Options exercisable

Weighted-

Weighted-

average

average

remaining

remaining

contractual

Weighted-

contractual

Weighted-

Number of

life

average

Number of

life

average

Range of Exercise Prices

  ​ ​ ​

options

  ​ ​ ​

(years)

  ​ ​ ​

exercise price

  ​ ​ ​

options

  ​ ​ ​

(years)

  ​ ​ ​

exercise price

$174.45 – $174.45

6

4

$

174.45

6

4

$

174.45

$174.46 – $281.53

13

1

266.31

13

1

266.31

$281.54 – $306.59

18

2

306.59

18

2

306.59

$306.60 – $348.73

21

4

347.00

15

1

348.73

$348.74 – $395.84

137

8

372.41

19

3

395.84

$395.85 – $545.67

95

6

521.70

26

5

533.35

$174.45 – $545.67

290

6

$

405.98

97

3

$

377.10


The aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding and exercisable stock options as of January 31, 2026 was $70,290 and $26,283, respectively. The last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on January 31, 2026 was $647.36 per share.

Restricted stock units

Restricted stock units (RSUs) are granted to certain employees and directors. Employee grants generally cliff vest after three years and director grants cliff vest after one year. The grant date fair value of RSUs is based on the closing market price of shares of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. RSUs are expensed on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Forfeitures of RSUs are estimated at the grant date based on historical rates of stock award activity and reduce the stock-based compensation expense recognized. At January 31, 2026, unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to RSUs was $41,129. The unrecognized stock-based compensation expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately one and a half years.

A summary of RSU activity is presented in the following table (shares in thousands):

Fiscal 2025

Fiscal 2024

Fiscal 2023

  ​ ​ ​

Weighted-

Weighted-

Weighted-

Number of

average grant

Number of

average grant

Number of

average grant

  ​ ​ ​

units

  ​ ​ ​

date fair value

  ​ ​ ​

units

  ​ ​ ​

date fair value

  ​ ​ ​

units

  ​ ​ ​

date fair value

Beginning of year

125

  ​ ​ ​

$

472.36

140

  ​ ​ ​

$

408.86

221

  ​ ​ ​

$

264.08

Granted

122

395.40

54

497.25

50

518.45

Vested

(46)

401.76

(50)

322.03

(122)

191.76

Forfeited

(24)

432.72

(19)

471.41

(9)

408.21

End of year

177

$

443.02

125

$

472.36

140

$

408.86

Expected to vest

164

$

443.02

116

$

472.36

130

$

408.86

Performance-based restricted stock units

Performance-based restricted stock units (PBSs) are granted to certain employees. PBSs cliff vest after three years based upon achievement of pre-established net sales and earnings before tax goals for each of the first two years. The performance is then subject to a three-year total shareholder return modifier. The grant date fair value of the PBSs is measured using a Monte Carlo simulation.

PBSs are expensed on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, based on the probability of achieving the performance goal, with changes in expectations recognized as an adjustment to earnings in the period of the change. If the performance goal is not met, no stock-based compensation expense is recognized and any previously recognized stock-based compensation expense is reversed. Forfeitures of PBSs are estimated at the grant date based on historical rates of stock award activity and reduce the stock-based compensation expense recognized. At January 31, 2026, unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to PBSs was $3,984. The unrecognized stock-based compensation expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately one year.

A summary of PBS activity is presented in the following table (shares in thousands):

Fiscal 2025

Fiscal 2024

Fiscal 2023

Weighted-

Weighted-

Weighted-

Number of

average grant

Number of

average grant

Number of

average grant

units

  ​ ​ ​

date fair value

  ​ ​ ​

units

  ​ ​ ​

date fair value

  ​ ​ ​

units

  ​ ​ ​

date fair value

Beginning of year

93

$

488.16

106

$

407.03

76

$

347.89

Granted

3

507.73

37

522.88

33

542.33

Change in performance award payout

30

395.84

34

306.59

Vested

(61)

332.12

(74)

306.59

Forfeited

(6)

529.61

(10)

476.01

(3)

403.60

End of year

59

$

530.45

93

$

488.16

106

$

407.03

Expected to vest

55

$

530.45

86

$

488.16

98

$

407.03


The number of PBSs granted is based on achieving the targeted performance goals as defined in the PBS agreements. As of January 31, 2026, the maximum number of units that could vest under the provisions of the agreements was 118.