REPURCHASES OF COMMON STOCK

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We primarily acquire shares by repurchases in the open market. However, we also acquire shares that are surrendered by employees in payment for the minimum required statutory withholding taxes due on the vesting of restricted stock units and the settlement of deferred stock units, otherwise referred to herein as employee surrenders. We issue shares of treasury stock upon the vesting of certain restricted stock units and upon the exercise of certain stock options. The number of shares of treasury stock issued during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, was not material.

The following is a summary of our open market common stock repurchases, reported on a trade date basis, and shares acquired through employee surrender for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands, except per share amounts):



	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017

Shares repurchased in the open market	302		312		1,284		1,398
Shares acquired through employee surrender for statutory tax withholding	1		2		50		55
Total shares repurchased	303		314		1,334		1,453

Cost of shares repurchased in the open market	$	73,247	$	50,413	$	265,209	$	215,320
Cost of shares for employee surrenders	390		370		9,110		7,829
Total cost of shares	$	73,637	$	50,783	$	274,319	$	223,149

Average cost per share - open market repurchases	$	242.78	$	161.57	$	206.59	$	153.99
Average cost per share - employee surrenders	$	253.34	$	155.14	$	181.68	$	142.15
Average cost per share - total	$	242.83	$	161.52	$	205.65	$	153.54