STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Share Repurchase Programs

The Company's Board of Directors has authorized the following share repurchase programs which were active during Year-To-Date 2018 and Year-To-Date 2017: (1) $250 million in December 2015 (the "2015 $250 Million Share Repurchase Program"); (2) $250 million in March 2017 (the "2017 Share Repurchase Program"); and (3) $250 million in March 2018 (the "2018 Share Repurchase Program"). The 2015 $250 Million Share Repurchase Program has been completed. At November 3, 2018, there was approximately $281.3 million in the aggregate remaining on the 2017 and 2018 Share Repurchase Programs. Under these programs, the Company may repurchase shares in the open market at current market prices at the time of purchase or in privately negotiated transactions. The timing and actual number of shares repurchased under a program will depend on a variety of factors including price, corporate and regulatory requirements, and other market and business conditions. The Company may suspend or discontinue a program at any time, and may thereafter reinstitute purchases, all without prior announcement.

As part of its share repurchase programs, the Company entered into an accelerated share repurchase program with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC in March 2018 under which it repurchased and retired approximately 1.0 million shares for $125.0 million. The accelerated share repurchase program was completed during the second quarter of fiscal 2018.

Pursuant to the Company's practice, including due to restrictions imposed by the Company's insider trading policy during black-out periods, the Company withholds and repurchases shares of vesting stock awards and makes payments to taxing authorities as required by law to satisfy the withholding tax requirements of all equity award recipients. The Company's payment of the withholding taxes in exchange for the surrendered shares constitutes a purchase of its common stock. The Company also acquires shares of its common stock in conjunction with liabilities owed under the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan, which are held in treasury.

The following table summarizes the Company's share repurchases:



	Thirty-nine Weeks Ended
	November 3, 2018			October 28, 2017
	Shares	Value		Shares	Value
	(In thousands)
Shares repurchases related to:
2015 $250 Million Share Repurchase Program ⁽¹⁾	—	$	—	766	$	85,385
2017 Share Repurchase Program ⁽²⁾⁽³⁾	1,666	$	213,113	—	$	—
Shares acquired and held in treasury under Deferred Compensation Plan	1.4	$	186	1.7	$	186


⁽¹⁾	Inclusive of 0.3 million and $32.7 million during Year-To-Date 2017 withheld to cover taxes in conjunction with the vesting of stock awards.


⁽²⁾	Inclusive of 0.3 million shares for approximately $43.2 million during Year-To-Date 2018 withheld to cover taxes in conjunction with the vesting of stock awards. Inclusive of approximately 1.0 million shares for $125.0 million repurchased pursuant to an accelerated repurchase program.


⁽³⁾	Subsequent to November 3, 2018 and through December 4, 2018, the Company repurchased approximately 60 thousand shares for approximately $8.4 million.

In accordance with the FASB ASC 505--Equity, the par value of the shares retired is charged against common stock and the remaining purchase price is allocated between additional paid-in capital and retained earnings. The portion charged against additional paid-in capital is determined using a pro-rata allocation based on total shares outstanding. Related to all shares retired during Year-To-Date 2018 and Year-To-Date 2017, approximately $79.4 million and $74.5 million, respectively, were charged to retained earnings.

Dividends

The Third Quarter 2018 dividend of $0.50 per share was paid on September 17, 2018 to shareholders of record on the close of business on September 5, 2018. During Year-To-Date 2018, $26.0 million was charged to retained earnings, of which $24.9 million related to cash dividends paid and $1.1 million related to dividend share equivalents on unvested Deferred Awards and Performance Awards. During Year-To-Date 2017, $22.4 million was charged to retained earnings, of which $21.1 million related to cash dividends paid and $1.3 million related to dividend share equivalents on unvested Deferred Awards and Performance Awards.

The Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.50 per share to be paid December 28, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 17, 2018. Future declarations of quarterly dividends and the establishment of future record and payment dates are subject to approval by the Company’s Board of Directors based on a number of factors, including business and market conditions, the Company’s future financial performance, and other investment priorities.