Common stock transactions

6 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2020

Common stock transactions

Common stock transactions

9. Common stock transactions

On August 29, 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a common stock repurchase program, which the Board has since increased on several occasions. Most recently, on August 26, 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a $2.0 billion increase to the existing common stock repurchase program and as of that date, a cumulative total of $10.0 billion had been authorized under the program since its inception. The repurchase authorization has no expiration date and allows repurchases from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The timing and number of shares purchased depends on a variety of factors, such as price, market conditions, compliance with the covenants and restrictions under the Company’s debt agreements and other factors. Repurchases under the program may be funded from available cash or borrowings, including under the Company’s Revolving Facility and issuance of CP Notes discussed in further detail in Note 5.

Pursuant to its common stock repurchase program, during the 26-week periods ended July 31, 2020 and August 2, 2019, the Company repurchased in the open market approximately 3.6 million shares of its common stock at a total cost of $664.6 million and approximately 3.0 million shares of its common stock at a total cost of $385.0 million, respectively.

The Company paid a cash dividend of $0.36 per share during each of the first two quarters of 2020. On August 25, 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.36 per share, which is payable on or before October 20, 2020 to shareholders of record on October 6, 2020. The amount and declaration of future cash dividends is subject to the sole discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and will depend upon, among other things, the Company’s results of operations, cash requirements, financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that the Board may deem relevant in its sole discretion.