Note M - Stockholders' Equity	9 Months Ended
Dec. 24, 2017
Notes to Financial Statements
Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]	NOTE M – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 1. Dividend s On November 1, 2017, the Company ’s Board of Directors declared a special cash dividend of $5.00 per share payable to stockholders of record as of December 22, 2017 of which approximately $20,923,000 was paid on January 4, 2018 to the stockholders. The Company also accrued $25,000 for the expected dividends payable on unvested restricted shares pursuant to the terms of the restricted stock agreement. As unvested restricted stock vests, the declared dividend is paid. We estimate that $25,000 (see Note H) will be paid during our fiscal year ending March 31, 2019. On March 10, 2015, the Company ’s Board of Directors declared a special cash dividend of $25.00 per share payable to stockholders of record as of March 20, 2015 of which approximately $115,100,000 was paid on March 27, 2015 to the stockholders. The Company accrued $1,000,000 for the expected dividends payable on unvested restricted shares pursuant to the terms of the restricted stock agreements. As unvested restricted stock vests, the declared dividend is paid. We have paid $875,000 of the accrued dividend and estimate that the remaining $125,000 (see Note H) will be paid during our fiscal year ending March 31, 2019. 2. Common Stock Purchase Rights O n June 5, 2013, Nathan’s adopted a new stockholder rights plan (the “2013 Rights Plan”) under which all stockholders of record as of June 17, 2013 received rights to purchase shares of common stock (the “2013 Rights”) and the previously existing “New Rights Plan” was terminated. The 2013 Rights were distributed as a dividend. Initially, the 2013 Rights will attach to, and trade with, the Company ’s common stock. Subject to the terms, conditions and limitations of the 2013 Rights Plan, the 2013 Rights will become exercisable if (among other things) a person or group acquires 15% or more of the Company’s common stock. Upon such an event and payment of the purchase price of $100.00 (the “2013 Right Purchase Price”), each 2013 Right (except those held by the acquiring person or group) will entitle the holder to acquire one share of the Company’s common stock (or the economic equivalent thereof) or, if the then-current market price is less than the then current 2013 Right Purchase Price, a number of shares of the Company’s common stock which at the time of the transaction has a market value equal to the then current 2013 Right Purchase Price at a purchase price per share equal to the then current market price of the Company’s Common Stock. The Company ’s Board of Directors may redeem the 2013 Rights prior to the time they are triggered. Upon adoption of the 2013 Rights Plan, the Company initially reserved 10,188,600 shares of common stock for issuance upon exercise of the 2013 Rights. The 2013 Rights will expire on June 17, 2018 unless earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company. At Dec ember 24, 2017, the Company has reserved 5,696,732 shares of common stock for issuance upon exercise of the Common Stock Purchase Rights approved by the Board of Directors on June 5, 2013. 3. Stock Repurchase Programs During the period from October 2001 through December 24, 2017, Nathan’s purchased 5,127,373 shares of its common stock at a cost of approximately $77,303,000 pursuant to various stock repurchase plans previously authorized by the Board of Directors. During the thirty-nine week period ended December 24, 2017, we did not repurchase any shares of common stock. As of December 24, 2017, an aggregate of 260,258 shares can still be purchased under Nathan’s existing stock buy-back program. Purchase s may be made from time to time, depending on market conditions, in open market or privately-negotiated transactions, at prices deemed appropriate by management. There is no set time limit on the repurchases to be made under these stock-repurchase plans.

NOTE

M – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Dividend

November 1, 2017,

the Company

’s Board of Directors declared a special cash dividend of

$5.00

per share payable to stockholders of record as of

December 22, 2017

of which approximately

$20,923,000

was paid on

January 4, 2018

to the stockholders.

The Company also accrued

$25,000

for the expected dividends payable on unvested restricted shares pursuant to the terms of the restricted stock agreement. As unvested restricted stock vests, the declared dividend is paid. We estimate that

$25,000

(see Note H) will be paid during our fiscal year ending

March 31, 2019.

March 10, 2015,

the Company

’s Board of Directors declared a special cash dividend of

$25.00

per share payable to stockholders of record as of

March 20, 2015

of which approximately

$115,100,000

was paid on

March 27, 2015

to the stockholders. The Company accrued

$1,000,000

for the expected dividends payable on unvested restricted shares pursuant to the terms of the restricted stock agreements. As unvested restricted stock vests, the declared dividend is paid. We have paid

$875,000

of the accrued dividend and estimate that the remaining

$125,000

(see Note H) will be paid during our fiscal year ending

March 31, 2019.

Common Stock Purchase Rights

June 5, 2013,

Nathan’s adopted a new stockholder rights plan (the

“2013

Rights Plan”) under which all stockholders of record as of

June 17, 2013

received rights to purchase shares of common stock (the

“2013

Rights”) and the previously existing “New Rights Plan” was terminated.

The

2013

Rights were distributed as a dividend. Initially, the

2013

Rights will attach to, and trade with, the Company

’s common stock. Subject to the terms, conditions and limitations of the

2013

Rights Plan, the

2013

Rights will become exercisable if (among other things) a person or group acquires

15%

or more of the Company’s common stock. Upon such an event and payment of the purchase price of

$100.00

(the

“2013

Right Purchase Price”), each

2013

Right (except those held by the acquiring person or group) will entitle the holder to acquire

one

share of the Company’s common stock (or the economic equivalent thereof) or, if the then-current market price is less than the then current

2013

Right Purchase Price, a number of shares of the Company’s common stock which at the time of the transaction has a market value equal to the then current

2013

Right Purchase Price at a purchase price per share equal to the then current market price of the Company’s Common Stock.

The Company

’s Board of Directors

may

redeem the

2013

Rights prior to the time they are triggered. Upon adoption of the

2013

Rights Plan, the Company initially reserved

10,188,600

shares of common stock for issuance upon exercise of the

2013

Rights. The

2013

Rights will expire on

June 17, 2018

unless earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company.

Dec

ember

24,

2017,

the Company has reserved

5,696,732

shares of common stock for issuance upon exercise of the Common Stock Purchase Rights approved by the Board of Directors on

June 5, 2013.

Stock Repurchase Programs

During the period from

October 2001

through

December 24, 2017,

Nathan’s purchased

5,127,373

shares of its common stock at a cost of approximately

$77,303,000

pursuant to various stock repurchase plans previously authorized by the Board of Directors. During the

thirty-nine

week period ended

December 24, 2017,

we did

not

repurchase any

shares of common stock.

As of

December 24, 2017,

an aggregate of

260,258

shares can still be purchased under Nathan’s existing stock buy-back program.

Purchase

may

be made from time to time, depending on market conditions, in open market or privately-negotiated transactions, at prices deemed appropriate by management. There is

set time limit on the repurchases to be made under these stock-repurchase plans.