Note 12 - Stockholders' Equity

3 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2015

Notes to Financial Statements

Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]

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STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Preferred Stock

At November 30, 2015 and August 31, 2015, there were 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock ($.01 par value per share) authorized, of which no shares were issued and outstanding. FactSet’s Board of Directors may from time to time authorize the issuance of one or more series of preferred stock and, in connection with the creation of such series, determine the characteristics of each such series including, without limitation, the preference and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of the series.     

Common Stock

At November 30, 2015 and August 31, 2015, there were 150,000,000 shares of common stock ($.01 par value per share) authorized, of which 50,658,052 and 50,328,423 shares were issued, respectively. The authorized shares of common stock are issuable for any proper corporate purpose, including future stock splits, stock dividends, acquisitions, raising equity capital or to adopt additional employee benefit plans.

Treasury Stock

At November 30, 2015 and August 31, 2015, there were 9,275,352 and 9,011,521 shares of treasury stock (at cost) outstanding, respectively. As a result, 41,382,700 and 41,316,902 shares of FactSet common stock were outstanding at November 30, 2015 and August 31, 2015, respectively.

Share Repurchase Program

During the first three months of fiscal 2016, the Company repurchased 250,000 shares for $41.9 million. On December 14, 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a $250.0 million expansion of the existing share repurchase program.

Including this expansion, $342.3 million is now available for future share repurchases. Repurchases will be made from time to time in the open market and privately negotiated transactions, subject to market conditions. No minimum number of shares to be repurchased has been fixed. There is no timeframe to complete the repurchase program and it is expected that share repurchases will be paid using existing and future cash generated by operations.

Restricted Stock

Restricted stock awards entitle the holder to shares of common stock as the awards vest over time. During the first three months of fiscal 2016, 37,079 of previously granted restricted stock awards vested and were included in common stock outstanding as of November 30, 2015 (less 13,831 shares repurchased from employees to cover their cost of taxes upon vesting of the restricted stock). During the same period a year ago, 53,495 of previously granted restricted stock awards vested and were included in common stock outstanding as of November 30, 2014 (less 17,165 shares repurchased from employees to cover their cost of taxes upon vesting of the restricted stock).

Dividends

The Company’s Board of Directors declared the following historical dividends:

Declaration Date	Dividends Per Share of Common Stock		Type	Record Date	Total $ Amount (in thousands)		Payment Date
November 6, 2015	$	0.44	Regular (cash)	November 30, 2015	$	18,208	December 15, 2015
August 10, 2015	$	0.44	Regular (cash)	August 31, 2015	$	18,179	September 15, 2015
May 12, 2015	$	0.44	Regular (cash)	May 29, 2015	$	18,274	June 16, 2015
February 11, 2015	$	0.39	Regular (cash)	February 27, 2015	$	16,236	March 17, 2015
November 12, 2014	$	0.39	Regular (cash)	November 28, 2014	$	16,216	December 16, 2014
August 14, 2014	$	0.39	Regular (cash)	August 29, 2014	$	16,299	September 16, 2014

All of the above cash dividends were paid from existing cash resources. Future dividend payments will depend on the Company’s earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and other factors considered relevant by the Company and is subject to final determination by the Company’s Board of Directors.