Stockholders' Equity

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Share Repurchases [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity

Equity

In 2001, our Board of Directors authorized a program to repurchase 15.4 million shares, adjusted for stock splits, of our common stock in open market or negotiated transactions using available cash, cash equivalents and investments which was subsequently amended in February 2012 to increase the remaining number of authorized shares for repurchase to 5 million.  Approximately 3.2 million shares remaining authorized for repurchase under the program as of December 31, 2014 and has no expiration date. There were no shares repurchased in the open market during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 and 1.8 million shares repurchased during 2012. Shares repurchased during 2012 were accounted for as treasury stock. Shares purchased under the repurchase program prior to 2012 were retired. The share repurchase authorization is discretionary, and may be suspended or discontinued at any time without prior notice.  

During the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 our Board of Directors declared regular quarterly dividends totaling $7.0 million, $6.9 million, and $6.9 million for each year, respectively.  We paid a special dividend of $85.0 million during the fourth quarter of 2012. Future payment of cash dividends and the amount of such dividends will depend upon our financial conditions, our results of operations, our cash requirements, our tax treatment, and certain corporate law requirements, as well as factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors.