Equity and Earnings Per Share

Preferred Stock

The Company is authorized to issue up to 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock. The Company's Board of Directors is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by Nevada law and the Company's articles of incorporation, to determine the terms and conditions of the preferred stock, including whether the shares of preferred stock will be issued in one or more series, the number of shares to be included in each series and the powers, designations, preferences and rights of the shares. The Company's Board of Directors also is authorized to designate any qualifications, limitations or restrictions on the shares without any further vote or action by the stockholders.

Common Stock

Dividends

On March 30 and June 28, 2018, the Company paid a dividend of $0.75 per common share as part of a regular cash dividend program. During the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company recorded $1.18 billion as a distribution against retained earnings (of which $648 million related to the principal stockholder and his family and the remaining $535 million related to all other shareholders).

On March 31 and June 30, 2017, the Company paid a dividend of $0.73 per common share as part of a regular cash dividend program. During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company recorded $1.16 billion as a distribution against retained earnings (of which $630 million related to the principal stockholder and his family and the remaining $526 million related to all other shareholders).

In July 2018, the Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.75 per common share (a total estimated to be approximately $591 million) to be paid on September 27, 2018, to shareholders of record on September 19, 2018.

Repurchase Program

In November 2016, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of $1.56 billion of its outstanding common stock, which was to expire in November 2018. In June 2018, the Company's Board of Directors authorized increasing the remaining repurchase amount of $1.11 billion to $2.50 billion and extending the expiration date to November 2020. Repurchases of the Company's common stock are made at the Company's discretion in accordance with applicable federal securities laws in the open market or otherwise. The timing and actual number of shares to be repurchased in the future will depend on a variety of factors, including the Company's financial position, earnings, legal requirements, other investment opportunities and market conditions. During the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company repurchased 2,301,800 and 3,933,737 shares, respectively, of its common stock for $175 million and $225 million, respectively, (including commissions) under the program. All share repurchases of the Company's common stock have been recorded as treasury stock.

Noncontrolling Interests

On February 23 and June 22, 2018, SCL paid a dividend of 0.99 Hong Kong dollars ("HKD") and HKD 1.00 per share, respectively, to SCL shareholders (a total of $2.05 billion, of which the Company retained $1.44 billion during the six months ended June 30, 2018). On February 24 and June 23, 2017, SCL paid a dividend of HKD 0.99 and HKD 1.00 per share, respectively, to SCL shareholders (a total of $2.07 billion, of which the Company retained $1.45 billion during the six months ended June 30, 2017).

During the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company distributed $6 million to certain of its noncontrolling interests.

Earnings Per Share

The weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share consisted of the following:



	Three Months Ended June 30,		Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018	2017	2018	2017
	(In millions)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (used in the calculation of basic earnings per share)	789	792	789	793
Potential dilution from stock options and restricted stock and stock units	1	—	1	1
Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares (used in the calculation of diluted earnings per share)	790	792	790	794
Antidilutive stock options excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share	1	7	1	7

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, accumulated other comprehensive loss consisted solely of foreign currency translation adjustments.