Shareholders' Equity

12 Months Ended

Feb. 03, 2024

Shareholders' Equity

Shareholders' Equity

Note 8. Shareholders’ Equity

Common Stock

We had 60 million shares of $1.00 par value per share common stock authorized for issuance as of February 3, 2024 and January 28, 2023. As of February 3, 2024 and January 28, 2023, we had 16 million shares and 16 million shares, respectively, of common stock issued and outstanding.

Dividends

During Fiscal 2023, Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2021, we paid $42 million, $35 million and $28 million, respectively, of dividends to our shareholders. Although we have paid dividends in each quarter since we became a public company in July 1960, we may discontinue or modify dividend payments at any time if we determine that other uses of our capital, including payment of outstanding debt, funding of acquisitions, funding of capital expenditures or repurchases of outstanding shares, may be in our best interest; if our expectations of future cash flows and future cash needs outweigh the ability to pay a dividend; or if the terms of our credit facility, other debt instruments or applicable law limit our ability to pay dividends.

Share Repurchases

During Fiscal 2023, Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2021, we repurchased $20 million, $92 million and $8 million, respectively in open market transactions. Additionally, during Fiscal 2023, Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2021, we purchased $10 million, $3 million and $3 million, respectively, of shares from our employees to cover employee tax liabilities related to the vesting of shares of our stock.

On December 7, 2021, our Board of Directors authorized us to spend up to $150 million to repurchase shares of our stock in open market transactions. This authorization superseded and replaced all previous authorizations to repurchase shares of our stock and has no automatic expiration. Pursuant to the Board of Directors’ December 7, 2021, authorization, we repurchased 196,000 shares of our common stock for $20 million, an average price of $102 per share, in open market transactions during Fiscal 2023.  As of February 3, 2024, $30 million of the authorization remained available for future repurchases of our common stock.

Preferred Stock

We had 30 million shares of $1.00 par value preferred stock authorized for issuance as of February 3, 2024 and January 28, 2023. No preferred shares were issued or outstanding as of February 3, 2024 or January 28, 2023.