XML 29 R16.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.24.1.u1
SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Share Repurchase Program  
Share repurchase program

NOTE 9 – SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

In January of 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program. Under the program, the Company may, from time to time, repurchase shares of its common stock, solely through open market purchases effected through a broker dealer at prevailing market prices, based on a variety of factors such as price, corporate trading policy requirements, and overall market conditions.  The Company’s Board of Directors may increase or otherwise modify, renew, suspend, or terminate the share repurchase program at any time, without prior notice.  As announced on May 23, 2023, and November 16, 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors each time approved a resolution to increase the authorization amount under the share repurchase program by an additional $2.0 billion, resulting in a cumulative authorization amount of $25.8 billion.  The additional authorizations are effective for three years, beginning on its respective announcement date.

The following table identifies shares of the Company’s common stock that have been repurchased as part of the Company’s publicly announced share repurchase program for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands, except per share data):

For the Three Months Ended

March 31, 

    

2024

    

2023

Shares repurchased

 

262

1,357

Average price per share

$

1,029.24

$

819.06

Total investment

$

270,017

$

1,111,447

As of March 31, 2024, the Company had $2.3 billion remaining under its share repurchase authorization.  Excise tax on shares repurchased, assessed at one percent of the fair market value of shares repurchased, was $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024.

Subsequent to the end of the first quarter and through May 9, 2024, the Company repurchased 0.2 million additional shares of its common stock under its share repurchase program, at an average price of $1,053.19, for a total investment of $208.7 million.  The Company has repurchased a total of 94.5 million shares of its common stock under its share repurchase program since the inception of the program in January of 2011 and through May 9, 2024, at an average price of $250.21, for a total aggregate investment of $23.7 billion.