Shareholders' Equity

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Equity [Abstract]

Shareholders’ Equity

Shareholders’ Equity

Preferred Stock

The Company has 400,000 shares of authorized but unissued $.01 par value preferred stock.

Common Stock

On April 25, 2018, the Company's shareholders approved an amendment to the Company's Articles of Organization to increase the authorized number of shares of $.002 par value common stock from 200,000,000 to 300,000,000. In addition, on April 25, 2018, the Company's shareholders approved an amendment and restatement of the Company's 2001 General Stock Option Plan which provides for an increase in the number of available shares by 10,000,000.

Each outstanding share of common stock entitles the record holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of the Company’s shareholders. Common shareholders are also entitled to dividends when and if declared by the Company’s Board of Directors.

Shareholder Rights Agreement

On December 5, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors allowed the Company’s Shareholder Rights Agreement and associated rights to expire in accordance with their terms without renewal. In connection with the adoption of the Shareholder Rights Agreement, the Company had filed Articles of Amendment to its Restated Articles of Organization establishing Series E Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, setting forth the rights, powers, and preferences of the Series E Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the rights (the “Preferred Shares”). Effective on April 26, 2019, the Company filed Articles of Amendment to the Company’s Restated Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts eliminating the Preferred Shares and returning them to authorized but undesignated shares of the Company’s preferred stock.

Stock Repurchases

In April 2017, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of $100,000,000 of the Company's common stock. The Company repurchased 1,744,000 shares at a cost of $100,000,000 under this April 2017 program, including 803,000 shares at a cost of $45,200,000 in 2018. In February 2018, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of $150,000,000 of the Company's common stock. The Company repurchased 3,174,000 shares at a cost of $150,000,000 in 2018 under this February 2018 program. In October 2018, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of $200,000,000 of the Company's common stock. The Company repurchased 203,000 shares at a cost of $8,622,000 in 2018 under this October 2018 program. Total stock repurchases amounted to $203,822,000 in 2018. The Company repurchased 1,398,000 shares at a cost of $61,690,000 in 2019 and 1,215,000 shares at a cost of $51,036,000 in 2020 under this October 2018 program, leaving a remaining balance of $78,652,000. On March 12, 2020, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of an additional $200,000,000 of the Company's common stock. Purchases under this March 2020 program will commence upon completion of the October 2018 program. The Company may repurchase shares under this program in future periods depending on a variety of factors, including, among other things, the impact of dilution from employee stock awards, stock price, share availability, and cash requirements. The Company is authorized to make repurchases of its common stock through open market purchases, pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, or in privately negotiated transactions.

Dividends

The Company’s Board of Directors declared and paid cash dividends of $0.050 per share in the first, second, and third quarters of 2019, and $0.055 in the fourth quarter of 2019, as well as in the first, second, and third quarters of 2020. The dividend was increased to $0.060 per share in the fourth quarter of 2020. Also, in the fourth quarter of 2020, an additional special cash dividend of $2.00 per share was declared and paid. Total dividends amounted to $390,508,000 in 2020, which included $351,428,000 paid for the special cash dividend, $35,124,000 in 2019, and $31,865,000 in 2018. Future dividends will be declared at the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors and will depend upon such factors as the Board deems relevant, including, among other things, the Company's ability to generate positive cash flow from operations.