Note 14 - Capital Stock (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Equity [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]

Capital Stock

Share Repurchase Activity

On August 9, 2017, Radian Group’s board of directors authorized a share repurchase program to spend up to $50 million to repurchase Radian Group common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, based on market and business conditions, stock price and other factors. Radian established a trading plan under Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act to implement the program. The Company completed this program during the first half of 2018 by purchasing 3,022,856 shares of Radian Group common stock at an average price of $16.56 per share, including commissions.

On August 16, 2018, Radian Group’s board of directors approved a share repurchase program that authorized the Company to repurchase up to $100 million of its common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, based on market and business conditions, stock price and other factors. On March 20, 2019, Radian Group’s board of directors approved a $150 million increase in authorization for this program, bringing the total authorization to repurchase shares up to $250 million, excluding commissions. Radian operated this program pursuant to a trading plan under Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act to implement this program. During 2019, the Company completed this program by purchasing 11,258,574 shares, which represents 5.3% of the shares outstanding at the beginning of the program, at an average price of $22.22 per share including commissions, at which time no further purchase authority remained under this program.

On August 14, 2019, Radian Group’s board of directors approved a share repurchase program that authorized the Company to spend up to $200 million, excluding commissions, to repurchase Radian Group common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, based on market and business conditions, stock price and other factors. Radian operated this program pursuant to a trading plan under Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act. Under this program during 2019, the Company purchased 2,195,661 shares at an average price of $22.79 per share, including commissions. As of December 31, 2019, purchase authority of up to $150.0 million remained available under this program.

On February 13, 2020, Radian Group’s board of directors authorized a $275 million increase in this program, bringing the total authorization to repurchase shares up to $475 million, excluding commissions, and extended the expiration of this program extension from July 31, 2020 to August 31, 2021. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company purchased 11,036,248 shares at an average price of $20.51, including commissions.

Effective March 19, 2020, the Company temporarily suspended purchases under its share repurchase program and canceled its then current 10b5-1 plan in response to uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Radian may initiate a new 10b5-1 plan at its discretion in the future. As of December 31, 2020, purchase authority of up to $198.9 million remained available under this program. The expiration date of the current share repurchase authorization remains August 31, 2021.

Other Purchases

We may purchase shares on the open market to settle stock options exercised by employees and purchases under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan. In addition, upon the vesting of certain restricted stock awards under our equity compensation plans, we may withhold from such vested awards shares of our common stock to satisfy the tax liability of the award recipients.

Dividends and Dividend Equivalents

In each of the quarters during 2019 and 2018, we declared quarterly cash dividends on our common stock equal to $0.0025 per share. On February 13, 2020, Radian Group’s board of directors authorized an increase to the Company’s quarterly cash dividend from $0.0025 to $0.125 per share, which was declared and paid during each of the quarters in 2020.

Also beginning in first quarter of 2020, dividend equivalents are accrued on RSUs when dividends are declared on the Company’s common stock, subject to certain exclusions. See Note 17 for information about our dividend equivalents on RSU awards.