Common Stockholders' Equity

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Equity [Abstract]

Common Stockholders' Equity

Common Stockholders’ Equity

The weighted average number of shares used in the computation of net income per share was as follows:

(In thousands)	2019	2018	2017
Basic	190,722	190,048	187,265
Diluted	193,521	192,395	193,527

Treasury shares have been excluded from average outstanding shares from the date of acquisition. The weighted average number of basic shares outstanding includes the impact of 7,575,168 common shares held in a grantor trust. The common shares held in the grantor trust are for delivery upon settlement of vested but mandatorily deferred restricted stock units ("RSUs"). Shares held by the grantor trust do not affect diluted shares outstanding since shares deliverable under vested RSUs were already included in diluted shares outstanding. The difference in calculating basic and diluted net income per share is attributable entirely to the dilutive effect of stock-based compensation plans. Changes in shares of common stock outstanding, net of treasury shares, are presented below. Shares of common stock issued and outstanding do not include shares related to unissued restricted stock units (including shares held in the grantor trust).

	2019		2018		2017
Balance, beginning of year	182,993,640		182,272,278		181,790,399
Shares issued	687,339		1,257,762		1,578,384
Shares repurchased	(269,072	)	(536,400	)	(1,096,505)
Balance, end of year	183,411,907		182,993,640		182,272,278

The amount of dividends paid is dependent upon factors such as the receipt of dividends from our subsidiaries, our results of operations, cash flow, financial condition and business needs, the capital and surplus requirements of our subsidiaries, and applicable insurance regulations that limit the amount of dividends that may be paid by our regulated insurance subsidiaries.