Stockholders' Equity

9 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2012

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity

Stockholders’ Equity

Share Repurchases

On December 15, 2011, we announced that the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the 2012 Share Repurchase Program to repurchase up to $150.0 million of the Company’s common stock. This program runs through December 31, 2012, and may be discontinued at any time. Purchases under the 2012 Share Repurchase Program are subject to a review of the circumstances in place at the time and will be made from time to time as permitted by securities laws and other legal requirements. During the three months ended July 31, 2012, the Company repurchased 321 thousand shares of the Company's common stock for $25.0 million, at an average purchase price of $77.89 per share. During the three months ended January 31, 2012, the Company repurchased 663 thousand shares for $46.1 million, at an average purchase price of $69.60 per share. Through the nine months ended July 31, 2012, the Company repurchased 984 thousand shares of the Company’s common stock for $71.1 million and approximately $78.9 million remained authorized for repurchase under the 2012 Share Repurchase Program. The Company did not repurchase any shares during fiscal 2011.

Dividends

We paid a semiannual dividend of approximately $1.4 million or 3 cents per share on February 7, 2012, to stockholders of record on January 25, 2012. We paid another semiannual dividend of approximately $1.4 million or 3 cents per share on August 6, 2012, to stockholders of record on July 24, 2012.