Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

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STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]  
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
We issue share-based awards under various incentive compensation plans, including non-qualified and incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and stock units ("RSUs") and restricted performance shares and performance units ("RPUs", collectively with RSUs, "Restricted Units"). Upon vesting, Restricted Units result in the issuance of the equivalent number of UPS class A common shares after required tax withholdings. Dividends earned on Restricted Units are reinvested in additional Restricted Units at each dividend payable date until conversion to class A shares occurs.
Our primary equity compensation programs are the UPS Long-Term Incentive Performance Award program (the "LTIP") and the UPS Stock Option program. We also grant Restricted Units to our Board of Directors (the "Board") as a component of their annual compensation and, from time to time, to individual employees as a retention mechanism. We also maintain an employee stock purchase plan which allows eligible employees to purchase shares of UPS class A common stock at a discount.
Pre-tax compensation expense for stock compensation awards recognized in Compensation and benefits in the statements of consolidated income for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $(27) and $126 million, respectively.
Management Incentive Award Program
The UPS Management Incentive Program (the "MIP") is an incentive-based compensation program, with awards based on annual Company performance. MIP awards are paid in cash, unless a participant elects to receive all or a portion of the award in unrestricted shares of class A common stock. As of March 31, 2024, the MIP was classified as a compensation obligation within Accrued wages and withholdings in our consolidated balance sheet.
Long-Term Incentive Performance Program
RPUs issued under the LTIP vest at the end of a three-year performance period, subject to continued employment with the Company (except in the case of death, disability or retirement, in which case immediate vesting occurs on a prorated basis). The actual number of RPUs earned is based on achievement of the performance targets established on the grant date.
The performance targets are equally weighted between adjusted earnings per share and cumulative free cash flow. The final number of RPUs earned will then be subject to adjustment based on total shareholder return relative to the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. We determine the grant date fair value of the RPUs using a Monte Carlo model and recognize compensation expense (less estimated forfeitures) ratably over the vesting period, based on the number of awards expected to be earned.
Based on the date of the Compensation and Human Capital Committee of the Board's approval of the 2024 LTIP award performance targets, we determined March 20, 2024 to be the award measurement date and each target RPU awarded was valued at $158.16.
The weighted-average assumptions used and the weighted-average fair values of the LTIP awards granted in 2024 and 2023 are as follows:
2024 2023
Risk-free interest rate 4.45  % 3.81  %
Expected volatility 27.00  % 30.30  %
Weighted-average fair value of units granted
$ 158.16  $ 200.01 
Share payout 102.20  % 107.80  %
There is no expected dividend yield as units earn dividend equivalents.
Non-Qualified Stock Options
We grant non-qualified stock options to a limited group of eligible senior management employees under the UPS Stock Option program. Stock option awards vest over a five-year period with approximately 20% of the award vesting at each anniversary of the grant date (except in the case of death, disability or retirement, in which case immediate vesting occurs). The option grants expire 10 years after the date of the grant. On March 20, 2024, we granted 0.2 million stock options at an exercise price of $154.76, the New York Stock Exchange closing price on that date.
The fair value of each option granted is estimated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. The weighted-average assumptions used and the weighted-average fair values of options granted in 2024 and 2023 are as follows:
2024 2023
Expected dividend yield 3.96  % 3.54  %
Risk-free interest rate 4.25  % 3.70  %
Expected life (in years) 6.13 5.93
Expected volatility 28.94  % 28.31  %
Weighted-average fair value of options granted
$ 34.76  $ 41.08