Shareholders' Equity

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]

Shareholders’ Equity

Share Repurchases

On November 2, 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) authorized the 2016 share repurchase program (“2016 Repurchase Program”) for up to $15.0 billion of the Company’s common shares. The 2016 Repurchase Program permits the Company to effect repurchases from time to time through a combination of open market repurchases, privately negotiated transactions, accelerated share repurchase transactions, and/or other derivative transactions. The 2016 Repurchase Program can be modified or terminated by the Board at any time.

During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock. At March 31, 2019, the Company had remaining authorization to repurchase an aggregate of up to approximately $13.9 billion of its common shares under the 2016 Repurchase Program.

Dividends

The quarterly cash dividend declared by the Board was $0.50 per share in the three-month periods ended March 31, 2019 and 2018. CVS Health has paid cash dividends every quarter since becoming a public company. Future dividend payments will depend on the Company’s earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and other factors considered relevant by the Board.