XML 39 R22.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.25.0.1
Stockholders' Equity
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Stockholders' Equity  
Stockholders' Equity

14.   Stockholders’ Equity

Common Stock - Dividends and Share Repurchases

Our Board reinstated and declared a quarterly dividend in the second quarter of fiscal 2022 and has continued to pay quarterly dividends through fiscal 2024. Our Board declared dividends of $1.08 per common share in the aggregate during each fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2023. Future decisions to pay or to increase or decrease dividends are at the discretion of the Board and will be dependent on our operating performance, financial condition, capital expenditure requirements, limitations on cash distributions

pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement and applicable law, and such other factors that the Board considers relevant. (See Note 10 for further discussion of our long-term debt.)

On October 26, 2022, our Board increased the authorization to repurchase our common stock by 5.0 million shares to 61.0 million shares. Under this authorization, we have cumulatively repurchased 57.1 million shares at a total cost of $1,829.7 million, excluding excise tax, through December 31, 2024. During fiscal 2024, 2023 and 2022, we repurchased 0.5 million, 1.4 million and 2.0 million shares of our common stock at a cost of $18.0 million, $46.1 million and $63.1 million, excluding excise tax, respectively. Our objectives with regard to share repurchases have been to offset the dilution to our shares outstanding that results from equity compensation grants and to supplement our earnings per share growth. Repurchased common stock is reflected as a reduction of stockholders’ equity in treasury stock.

Our share repurchase program does not have an expiration date, does not require us to purchase a specific number of shares and may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time. Share repurchases may be made from time to time in open market purchases, privately-negotiated transactions, accelerated share repurchase programs, issuer self-tender offers or otherwise. Future decisions to repurchase shares are at the discretion of the Board and are based on several factors, including current and forecasted operating cash flows, capital needs associated with new restaurant development and maintenance of existing locations, dividend payments, debt levels and cost of borrowing, obligations associated with the FRC acquisition, our share price and current market conditions. The timing and number of shares repurchased are also subject to legal constraints and covenants under our Loan Agreement that limit share repurchases based on a defined ratio. (See Note 10 for further discussion of our long-term debt.)