Earnings Per Share, Share Repurchases and Dividends on Common Stock (Unaudited)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Equity [Abstract]

EARNINGS PER SHARE, SHARE REPURCHASES AND DIVIDENDS ON COMMON STOCK

EARNINGS PER SHARE, SHARE REPURCHASES AND DIVIDENDS ON COMMON STOCK

Basic Earnings Per Share

We calculate basic earnings per share by dividing net earnings by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period.

Diluted Earnings Per Share

Diluted earnings per share include the dilutive effect of awards granted to employees under stock-based compensation plans. The dilutive effect of these securities totaled 0.3 million shares for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. The dilutive effect of these securities totaled 0.5 million shares and 0.6 million shares for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively.

Share Repurchases

Share Repurchase Programs

On January 25, 2021, the company’s board of directors authorized a share repurchase program of up to $3.0 billion of the company’s common stock (the “2021 Repurchase Program”). Repurchases under the 2021 Repurchase Program commenced in October 2021 and were completed in April 2023.

On January 24, 2022, the company’s board of directors authorized a new share repurchase program of up to an additional $2.0 billion in share repurchases of the company’s common stock (the “2022 Repurchase Program”). Repurchases under the 2022 Repurchase Program commenced in April 2023 and were completed in February 2024.

On December 6, 2023, the company’s board of directors authorized a new share repurchase program of up to an additional $2.5 billion in share repurchases of the company’s common stock (the “2023 Repurchase Program”). Repurchases under the 2023 Repurchase Program commenced in February 2024 upon completion of the 2022 Repurchase Program. As of September 30, 2024, repurchases under the 2023 Repurchase Program totaled $0.9 billion; $1.6 billion remained under this share repurchase authorization. By its terms, the 2023 Repurchase Program will expire when we have used all authorized funds for repurchases.

Accelerated Share Repurchase Agreements

During the first quarter of 2023, the company entered into an accelerated share repurchase (ASR) agreement with Bank of America, N.A. (Bank of America) to repurchase $500 million of the company’s common stock as part of the 2021 and 2022 Repurchase Programs. Under the agreement, we made a payment of $500 million to Bank of America and received an initial delivery of 0.9 million shares valued at $400 million that were immediately canceled by the company. The remaining balance of $100 million was settled on April 27, 2023 with a final delivery of 0.2 million shares from Bank of America. The final average purchase price was $458.28 per share.

During the first quarter of 2024, the company entered into an ASR agreement with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (Morgan Stanley) to repurchase $1.0 billion of the company’s common stock as part of the 2022 Repurchase Program. Under the agreement, we made a payment of $1.0 billion to Morgan Stanley and received an initial delivery of 1.8 million shares valued at $800 million that were immediately canceled by the company. The remaining balance of $200 million was settled on May 1, 2024 with a final delivery of 0.4 million shares from Morgan Stanley. The final average purchase price was $455.73 per share.

Share repurchases take place from time to time, subject to market conditions and management’s discretion, in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The company retires its common stock upon repurchase and, in the periods presented, has not made any purchases of common stock other than in connection with these publicly announced repurchase programs.

The table below summarizes the company’s share repurchases to date under the authorizations described above:

							Shares Repurchased (in millions)
Repurchase Program Authorization Date	Amount Authorized (in millions)		Total Shares Retired (in millions)	Average  Price Per Share(1)		Date Completed	Nine Months Ended September 30
							2024	2023
January 25, 2021	$	3,000	7.0	$	431.05	April 2023	—	1.4
January 24, 2022(2)	$	2,000	4.4	$	455.01	February 2024	2.5	1.1
December 6, 2023	$	2,500	2.0	$	461.06		2.0	—

(1)As a part of the 2023 Repurchase Program, the board of directors approved that the purchases under this program, and the authorization under the 2022 Repurchase Program, be exclusive of brokerage commissions and other costs of execution, including taxes. Commissions paid are included for the 2021 Repurchase Program.

(2)The 2022 Repurchase Program completed in February 2024; however, it included the $1.0 billion ASR for which the final delivery of shares was outstanding at the end of the first quarter of 2024. On May 1, 2024, the company received a final delivery of 0.4 million shares for that ASR, which are included in the 2022 Repurchase Program authorization.

Dividends on Common Stock

In May 2024, the company increased the quarterly common stock dividend 10 percent to $2.06 per share from the previous amount of $1.87 per share.