Common Stock. We have separate equity distribution agreements (collectively, “Equity Distribution Agreements”) to offer and sell, from time to time, up to $200,000,000 in aggregate offering price of shares of our common stock. As of September 30, 2020, no shares had been issued under the Equity Distribution Agreements. Accordingly, at September 30, 2020, we had $200,000,000 available under the Equity Distribution Agreements.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, we acquired 76,574 shares and 45,030 shares, respectively, of common stock held by employees who tendered owned shares to satisfy tax withholding obligations.

Stock Repurchase Plan. During the first quarter of 2020, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 5,000,000 outstanding shares of common stock. Due to the rising level of uncertainty in financial markets and the adverse effects of COVID-19 on the public health and our operators, our Board of Directors terminated the stock repurchase plan on March 25, 2020. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we purchased 615,827 shares at an average price of $29.25 per share, including commissions, for a total purchase price of $18,012,000.

Non-controlling Interests. We have entered into partnerships to develop and/or own real estate. Given that our limited members do not have the substantive kick-out rights, liquidation rights, or participation rights, we have concluded that the partnerships are VIEs. As we exercise power over and receive benefits from the VIEs, we are considered the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, we consolidate the VIEs and record the non-controlling interests on the consolidated financial statements.

As of September 30, 2020, we have the following consolidated VIEs (in thousands):

Available Shelf Registration. We have an automatic shelf registration statement on file with the SEC, and currently have the ability to file additional automatic shelf registration statements, to provide us with capacity to publicly offer an indeterminate amount of common stock, preferred stock, warrants, debt, depositary shares, or units. We may from time to time raise capital under our automatic shelf registration statement in amounts, at prices, and on terms to be announced when and if the securities are offered. The specifics of any future offerings, along with the use of proceeds of any securities offered, will be described in detail in a prospectus supplement, or other offering materials, at the time of the offering. Our shelf registration statement expires on February 28, 2022.

Distributions. We declared and paid the following cash dividends (in thousands):

(1)	Represents $0.19 per share per month for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019.

(2)	Includes $586 related to the vesting of performance-based stock units.

(3)	Includes $300 related to the vesting of performance-based stock units.

In October 2020, we declared a monthly cash dividend of $0.19 per share on our common stock

for the months of October, November and December 2020, payable on October 30, November 30, and December 31, 2020, respectively, to stockholders of record on October 22, November 20, and December 23, 2020, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation. Under our 2015 Equity Participation Plan (“the 2015 Plan”), 1,400,000 shares of common stock have been reserved for awards, including nonqualified stock option grants and restricted stock grants to officers, employees, non-employee directors and consultants. The terms of the awards granted under the 2015 Plan are set by our compensation committee at its discretion.

At September 30, 2020, we had 15,000 stock options outstanding and exercisable. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, no stock options were granted. The stock options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:


		Weighted
		Average
	Options	Exercise		Option		Market
	Exercised	Price		Value		Value ⁽¹⁾
2020	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
2019	5,000	$	24.65	$	123,000	$	233,000

(1)

(1)	As of exercise date.

The following table summarizes our restricted stock and performance-based stock units activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2020			2019
Outstanding, January 1		345,633			325,750
Granted		167,375			147,608
Vested		(166,051)	⁽¹⁾		(127,725)	⁽²⁾
Outstanding, September 30		346,957			345,633

(1)	Includes 81,574 performance-based stock units.

(2)	Includes 48,225 performance-based stock units.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, we granted restricted stock and performance-based stock units under the 2015 Plan as follows:


	No. of	Price per
Year	Shares/Units	Share		Vesting Period
2020	76,464	$	48.95	ratably over 3 years
	66,027	$	49.98	TSR targets ⁽¹⁾
	9,884	$	38.45	May 27, 2021
	15,000	$	38.45	ratably over 3 years
	167,375

2019	78,276	$	46.54	ratably over 3 years
	60,836	$	46.54	TSR targets ⁽¹⁾
	8,496	$	44.73	May 29, 2020
	147,608

(1)	Vesting is based on achieving certain total shareholder return (“TSR”) targets in 4 years with acceleration opportunity in 3 years.

Compensation expense recognized related to the vesting of restricted common stock and performance-based stock units for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 were $5,231,000 and $4,938,000, respectively. At September 30, 2020, the remaining compensation expense to be recognized related to the future service period of unvested outstanding restricted common stock and performance-based stock units are as follows (in thousands):


	Remaining
	Compensation
Vesting Date	Expense
2020	$	1,781
2021		5,201
2022		2,729
2023		367
Total	$	10,078