Common Stock (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Common Stock [Abstract]

Common Stock

Common Stock

The following represents the Company's purchase of Charter Class A common stock and the effect on the consolidated statements of cash flows during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018.

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2019			2018			2019			2018
	Shares	$		Shares	$		Shares	$		Shares	$
Share buybacks	6,894,762	$	2,748	3,046,346	$	929	11,757,758	$	4,455	10,349,639	$	3,142
Income tax withholding	46,691	19		12,703	4		324,731	113		209,394	72
Exercise cost	75,476			8,785			260,646			15,200
	7,016,929	$	2,767	3,067,834	$	933	12,343,135	$	4,568	10,574,233	$	3,214

As of September 30, 2019, Charter had remaining board authority to purchase an additional $1.4 billion of Charter’s Class A common stock and/or Charter Holdings common units. The Company also withholds shares of its Class A common stock in payment of income tax withholding owed by employees upon vesting of equity awards as well as exercise costs owed by employees upon exercise of stock options.

In 2018, Charter’s board of directors approved the retirement of the then currently held treasury stock and those shares were retired as of December 31, 2018. The Company accounts for treasury stock using the cost method and includes treasury stock as a component of total shareholders’ equity.