Equity

Preferred Stock

The Company is authorized to issue up to 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock. The Company's Board of Directors is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by Nevada law and the Company's articles of incorporation, to determine the terms and conditions of the preferred stock, including whether the shares of preferred stock will be issued in one or more series, the number of shares to be included in each series and the powers, designations, preferences and rights of the shares. The Company's Board of Directors also is authorized to designate any qualifications, limitations or restrictions on the shares without any further vote or action by the stockholders.

Common Stock

Dividends

On March 30, June 28, September 27 and December 27, 2018, the Company paid a dividend of $0.75 per common share as part of a regular cash dividend program. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded $2.35 billion as a distribution against retained earnings (of which $1.30 billion related to the Principal Stockholder and his family and the remaining $1.05 billion related to all other shareholders).

On March 31, June 30, September 29 and December 29, 2017, the Company paid a dividend of $0.73 per common share as part of a regular cash dividend program. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recorded $2.31 billion as a distribution against retained earnings (of which $1.26 billion related to the Principal Stockholder and his family and the remaining $1.05 billion related to all other shareholders).

On March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 30, 2016, the Company paid a dividend of $0.72 per common share as part of a regular cash dividend program. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company recorded $2.29 billion as a distribution against retained earnings (of which $1.24 billion related to the Principal Stockholder and his family and the remaining $1.05 billion related to all other shareholders).

In January 2019, as part of a regular cash dividend program, the Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.77 per common share (a total estimated to be approximately $597 million) to be paid on March 28, 2019, to shareholders of record on March 20, 2019.

Repurchase Program

In October 2014, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of $2.0 billion of its outstanding common stock, which expired in October 2016. In November 2016, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of $1.56 billion of its outstanding common stock, which was to expire in November 2018. In June 2018, the Company's Board of Directors authorized increasing the remaining repurchase amount of $1.11 billion to $2.50 billion and extending the expiration date to November 2020. Repurchases of the Company's common stock are made at the Company's discretion in accordance with applicable federal securities laws in the open market or otherwise. The timing and actual number of shares to be repurchased in the future will depend on a variety of factors, including the Company's financial position, earnings, legal requirements, other investment opportunities and market conditions. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company repurchased 14,998,127 and 6,194,137 shares, respectively, of its common stock for $905 million and $375 million, respectively, (including commissions) under the Company's current program. During the year ended December 31, 2016, no shares were repurchased. All share repurchases of the Company's common stock have been recorded as treasury stock.

Rollforward of Shares of Common Stock

A summary of the outstanding shares of common stock is as follows:



Balance as of January 1, 2016	794,645,310
Exercise of stock options	233,804
Issuance of restricted stock	61,546
Vesting of restricted stock units	28,750
Forfeiture of unvested restricted stock	(9,318	)
Balance as of December 31, 2016	794,960,092
Exercise of stock options	617,612
Issuance of restricted stock	37,270
Vesting of restricted stock units	64,150
Repurchase of common stock	(6,194,137	)
Balance as of December 31, 2017	789,484,987
Exercise of stock options	1,007,551
Issuance of restricted stock	10,296
Vesting of restricted stock units	5,000
Repurchase of common stock	(15,044,620	)
Balance as of December 31, 2018	775,463,214

Other Equity Transactions

In addition to the shares repurchased under the share repurchase program, during the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company repurchased 46,493 shares in satisfaction of tax withholding and exercise price obligations on stock option exercises.

Noncontrolling Interests

SCL

On February 23 and June 22, 2018, SCL paid a dividend of 0.99 Hong Kong dollars ("HKD") and HKD 1.00 per share, respectively, to SCL shareholders (a total of $2.05 billion, of which the Company retained $1.44 billion during the year ended December 31, 2018).

On February 24 and June 23, 2017, SCL paid a dividend of HKD 0.99 and HKD 1.00 per share, respectively, to SCL shareholders (a total of $2.07 billion, of which the Company retained $1.45 billion during the year ended December 31, 2017).

On February 26 and June 24, 2016, SCL paid a dividend of HKD 0.99 and HKD 1.00 per share, respectively, to SCL shareholders (a total of $2.07 billion, of which the Company retained $1.45 billion during the year ended December 31, 2016).

In January 2019, the Board of Directors of SCL declared a dividend of HKD 0.99 per share (a total of $1.02 billion, of which the Company retained approximately $715 million) to SCL shareholders of record on February 4, 2019, which was paid on February 22, 2019.

Other

During the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company distributed $12 million, $13 million and $15 million, respectively, to certain of its noncontrolling interests.