Stockholder's Equity

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Stockholder's Equity

Stockholders' Equity

Common Stock.  In September 2001, EOG's Board of Directors (Board) authorized the purchase of an aggregate maximum of 10 million shares of Common Stock that superseded all previous authorizations.  At December 31, 2016, 6,386,200 shares remained available for purchase under this authorization.  EOG last purchased shares of its Common Stock under this authorization in March 2003.  In addition, shares of Common Stock are from time to time withheld by, or returned to, EOG in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations arising upon the exercise of employee stock options or stock-settled stock appreciation rights (SARs), the vesting of restricted stock, restricted stock unit, performance stock or performance unit grants or in payment of the exercise price of employee stock options.  Such shares withheld or returned do not count against the Board authorization discussed above.  Shares purchased, withheld and returned are held in treasury for, among other purposes, fulfilling any obligations arising under EOG's stock-based compensation plans and any other approved transactions or activities for which such shares of Common Stock may be required.

On October 4, 2016, EOG issued approximately 25 million shares of EOG common stock in connection with the Yates transaction. (See Note 17.)

On February 24, 2014, EOG's Board approved a two-for-one stock split in the form of a stock dividend, which was paid on March 31, 2014, to stockholders of record as of March 17, 2014. 

On August 5, 2014, the Board increased the quarterly cash dividend on the common stock by 34% to $0.1675 per share, effective beginning with the dividend paid on October 31, 2014, to stockholders of record as of October 17, 2014. On February 24, 2014, the Board increased the quarterly cash dividend on the common stock by 33% to $0.125 per share, effective beginning with the dividend paid on April 30, 2014, to stockholders of record as of April 16, 2014.

The following summarizes Common Stock activity for each of the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016 (in thousands):

	Common Shares
	Issued	Treasury		Outstanding
Balance at December 31, 2013	546,378	(206	)	546,172
Common Stock Issued Under Stock-Based Compensation Plans	2,448	—		2,448
Treasury Stock Purchased (1)	—	(1,209	)	(1,209	)
Common Stock Issued Under Employee Stock Purchase Plan	202	—		202
Treasury Stock Issued Under Stock-Based Compensation Plans	—	682		682
Balance at December 31, 2014	549,028	(733	)	548,295
Common Stock Issued Under Stock-Based Compensation Plans	1,019	—		1,019
Treasury Stock Purchased (1)	—	(581	)	(581	)
Common Stock Issued Under Employee Stock Purchase Plan	104	121		225
Treasury Stock Issued Under Stock-Based Compensation Plans	—	901		901
Balance at December 31, 2015	550,151	(292	)	549,859
Common Stock Issued	25,204	—		25,204
Common Stock Issued Under Stock-Based Compensation Plans	1,500	—		1,500
Treasury Stock Purchased (1)	—	(922	)	(922	)
Common Stock Issued Under Employee Stock Purchase Plan	95	117		212
Treasury Stock Issued Under Stock-Based Compensation Plans	—	847		847
Balance at December 31, 2016	576,950	(250	)	576,700

(1) Represents shares that were withheld by or returned to EOG (i) in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations that arose upon the exercise of employee stock options or SARs or the vesting of restricted stock, restricted stock unit, performance stock or performance unit grants or (ii) in payment of the exercise price of employee stock options.

Preferred Stock.  EOG currently has one authorized series of preferred stock.  As of December 31, 2016, there were no shares of preferred stock outstanding.