Common Stock Dividends
We paid cash dividends of $7.85 and $7.35 per share on both Common and Class B common stock during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. On October 1, 2024, our Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $2.70 per share on both Common and Class B common stock that was paid on October 31, 2024 to shareholders of record as of October 16, 2024. Future dividends and/or changes in dividend rates are at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors and depend upon factors including, but not limited to, cash flow generated by operations, profitability, financial condition, cash requirements, prospects, and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors.
Dividend Reinvestment Plan
On March 29, 2024, we implemented the Watsco, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”), under which existing shareholders may, in accordance with the Plan, acquire shares of Common stock or Class B common stock, as applicable (collectively “common stock”), by reinvesting all or a portion of the cash dividends paid on such shareholders’ shares of common stock. The Plan has been registered under the Securities Act pursuant to our automatically effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-260758).
During the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2024, we issued 13,394 and 13,398 shares of common stock under the Plan, respectively.
Company Share Repurchase Program
In September 1999, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase, at management’s discretion, of up to 7,500,000 shares of common stock in the open market or via private transactions. Shares repurchased under the program are accounted for using the cost method and result in a reduction of shareholders’ equity. We last repurchased shares under this plan in 2008. In aggregate, 6,370,913 shares of Common and Class B common stock have been repurchased at a cost of $114.4 million since the inception of the program. At September 30, 2024, there were 1,129,087 shares remaining authorized for repurchase under the program. In considering any further stock repurchases under our repurchase program, we intend to evaluate the impact of the 1% excise tax on stock repurchases that became effective on January 1, 2023.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
There have been no material changes to the information regarding market risk provided in Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) that are, among other things, designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), Executive Vice President (“EVP”), and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure and appropriate SEC filings.
Our management, with the participation of our CEO, EVP and CFO, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report, and, based on that evaluation, our CEO, EVP and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective, at a reasonable assurance level, at and as of such date.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We continuously seek to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our internal controls. This results in refinements to processes throughout the Company. However, there were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended September 30, 2024, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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