Meritage Homes Corporation Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Below is a summary of compensation expense and stock award activity (dollars in thousands):



	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2014		2013		2014		2013
Stock-based compensation expense	$	3,771	$	3,099	$	9,035	$	7,040
Non-vested shares granted	—		3,600		374,683		345,700
Performance-based non-vested shares granted	—		—		52,083		62,500
Stock options exercised	1,200		12,400		41,445		334,500
Restricted stock awards vested (includes performance-based awards)	2,100		2,550		309,490		283,350

The following table includes additional information regarding the Plan (dollars in thousands):



	As of
	September 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
Unrecognized stock-based compensation cost	$	23,826	$	17,385
Weighted average years remaining vesting period	2.38		2.18
Total equity awards outstanding (1)	1,285,301		1,317,710

(1) Includes vested and unvested options outstanding and unvested restricted stock awards