Stockholders' Equity (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Schedule of stockholder's equity capital accounts

Common Stock. The following is a summary of our common stock issuances during the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 (dollars in thousands, except average price amounts):

	Shares Issued	Average Price	Gross Proceeds		Net Proceeds
2017 Dividend reinvestment plan issuances	2,836,216	$70.55	$	200,097	$	199,757
2017 Option exercises	202,190	50.88	10,288		10,288
2017 Equity shelf program issuances	2,986,574	72.30	215,917		214,406
2017 Redemption of equity membership units	91,180		—		—
2017 Stock incentive plans, net of forfeitures	159,709		—		—
2017 Totals	6,275,869		$	426,302	$	424,451
2018 Dividend reinvestment plan issuances	182,910	$55.40	$	10,133	$	10,133
2018 Option exercises	1,026	53.61	55		55
2018 Preferred stock conversions	83		—		—
2018 Stock incentive plans, net of forfeitures	114,037		—		—
2018 Totals	298,056		$	10,188	$	10,188

The following is a summary of our stockholders’ equity capital accounts as of the dates indicated:

	June 30, 2018	December 31, 2017
Preferred Stock:
Authorized shares	50,000,000	50,000,000
Issued shares	14,375,000	14,375,000
Outstanding shares	14,369,965	14,370,060
Common Stock, $1.00 par value:
Authorized shares	700,000,000	700,000,000
Issued shares	373,211,708	372,852,311
Outstanding shares	372,029,607	371,731,551

Preferred Stock. The following is a summary of our preferred stock activity during the periods indicated:

	Six Months Ended
	June 30, 2018			June 30, 2017
			Weighted Avg.			Weighted Avg.
	Shares		Dividend Rate	Shares		Dividend Rate
Beginning balance	14,370,060		6.500%	25,875,000		6.500%
Shares redeemed	—		0.000%	(11,500,000	)	6.500%
Shares converted	(95	)	6.500%	—		0.000%
Ending balance	14,369,965		6.500%	14,375,000		6.500%

Schedule of dividend payments

The following is a summary of our dividend payments (in thousands, except per share amounts): 

	Six Months Ended
	June 30, 2018				June 30, 2017
	Per Share		Amount		Per Share		Amount
Common Stock	$	1.7400	$	647,098	$	1.7400	$	634,296
Series I Preferred Stock	1.6250		23,352		1.6250		23,360
Series J Preferred Stock	—		—		0.2347		2,699
Totals			$	670,450			$	660,355

Schedule of accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.  The following is a summary of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the periods presented (in thousands):

	Unrecognized gains (losses) related to:
	Foreign Currency Translation			Available for Sale Securities			Actuarial Losses			Cash Flow Hedges			Total
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	(110,581	)	$	—		$	(884	)	$	—		$	(111,465	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassification adjustments	(21,166		)	—			—			—			(21,166		)
Net current-period other comprehensive income	(21,166		)	—			—			—			(21,166		)
Balance at June 30, 2018	$	(131,747	)	$	—		$	(884	)	$	—		$	(132,631	)
Balance at December 31, 2016	$	(173,496	)	$	5,120		$	(1,153	)	$	(2	)	$	(169,531	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassification adjustments	22,384			(16,477		)	—			—			5,907
Net current-period other comprehensive income	22,384			(16,477		)	—			—			5,907
Balance at June 30, 2017	$	(151,112	)	$	(11,357	)	$	(1,153	)	$	(2	)	$	(163,624	)