CPA Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) : Stock Compensation

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Stock Compensation

On January 2, Year 1, The Ludlow Corporation grants its president the rights to receive cash equal to the increase in market price of the company's stock for 1000 shares of stock. The market price on that date is $27 per share and that price rises to $30 per share on December 31, Year 1. At December 31, Year 2, the market price is $50 per share. The president must work for 3 years to earn these rights. The rights are valued at $5 per share on January 2, Year 1, at $6 per share on December 31, Year 1, and at $12 per share at December 31, Year 2. What amount of expense should the company recognize in Year 2?

Possible Answers:

$8,000

$4,000

$3,000

$6,000

Correct answer:

$6,000

Explanation:

At December 31, Year 1, the company has expensed $2K for these rights (1K shares x valuation of $6 per share / 3 years). At December 31, Year 2, the value of the rights has risen to $12 per share, so the company must true up their total cost up to that time. The total cost at the end of Year 2 should be $8K (1K shares x $12 per share x 2/3 years). The company must record an additional $6K in Year 2 to get to the correct balance

Example Question #2 : Stock Compensation

On August 1, Year 1, the Webber Company issued stock options to all of its employees. A total of 50,000 options were distributed equally among its employees. On the date of issuance each option was priced at $2.25 and the employees were given until the end of August to convert their options. The option price was set at $63 and the market price on the date of issues was $66. All options were converted by August 31 when the market price of the stock was $68. What amount of expense should the Webber Company recognize in Year 1?

Possible Answers:

$150,000

$250,000

$0

$112,500

Correct answer:

$0

Explanation:

The expense recorded is $0 because the stock options meet the requirements for being non-compensatory (that is, all employees are included equally, the discount on shares was very small, and employees only had 1 month to convert).

Example Question #1 : Stock Compensation

On January 2, Year 3, the Beans Company gives its CEO 1,500 options to buy stock in the company. The market price per share on that date is $25 and the option price is $22. The price increases to $29 per share on December 31, Year 3, and to $30 per share on December 31, Year 4. A computer pricing model values each option at $4 on the date of the grant, at $5 on December 31, Year 3, and at $7 on December 31, Year 4. The CEO must work for three years in order to earn these options and then has one additional year to exercise them. What amount of expense should Beans Company recognize in Year 4 related to these stock options?

Possible Answers:

$1,500

$6,000

$2,000

$7,000

Correct answer:

$2,000

Explanation:

For compensatory stock options, the expense is determined at the grant date only and is amortized over the vesting period. The expense for Year 4 is calculated as $4 per share x 1,500 shares / 3 years.

Example Question #4 : Stock Compensation

Any post retirement health benefits are accrued in a manner similar to pension benefits. The expected postretirement health benefits must be fully accrued by the date the employee is fully eligible for the benefits. The accrual will begin when the employee is hired through the eligibility date.

Possible Answers:

Employee retires

Employee is fully eligible for benefits

Benefits are paid

Benefits are utilized

Correct answer:

Employee is fully eligible for benefits

Explanation:

The employer's obligation for postretirement health benefits that are expected to be provided to or for an employee must be fully accrued by the date the:

Example Question #5 : Stock Compensation

Overfunded pension plans, which have a great asset count than liability, are reported as a noncurrent asset for balance sheet reporting purposes.

Possible Answers:

Noncurrent asset

Noncurrent liability

Current asset

Current liability

Correct answer:

Noncurrent asset

Explanation:

An overfunded single employer defined benefit postretirement plan should be recognized in a classified statement of financial position as a:

Example Question #1 : Stock Compensation

On which date would a public entity be required to measure the cost of employee services in exchange for an award of equity interests based on the FMV of the award?

Possible Answers:

Restriction lapse date

Exercise date

Vesting date

Grant date

Correct answer:

Grant date

Explanation:

Equity instruments are to be valued at grant date when they are issued for employee services.

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