Financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 used cash of $626.0 million, due to $562.3 million used for the repurchase of 13.8 million shares of common stock at an average price of $40.62 per share, $51.3 million used for dividend payments, $19.8 million used for payments related to net settlements of employee stock compensation awards, and $13.6 million used for a payment related to Universal Robots acquisition contingent consideration, partially offset by $21.0 million from the issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase and stock option plans.
Operating activities during the nine months ended October 1, 2017 provided cash of $479.0 million. Changes in operating assets and liabilities provided cash of $6.3 million. This was due to a $50.8 million increase in operating liabilities partially offset by a $44.5 million increase in operating assets.
The increase in operating assets was primarily due to a $75.6 million increase in accounts receivable due to higher sales, partially offset by a $23.8 million decrease in inventories and a $7.4 million decrease in prepayments and other assets.
The increase in operating liabilities was due to a $20.5 million increase in other accrued liabilities, a $15.8 million increase in income taxes, a $3.0 million increase in accrued employee compensation due primarily to variable compensation, and a $34.5 million increase in deferred revenue and customer advance payments, partially offset by an $18.1 million decrease in accounts payable and $4.9 million of retirement plan contributions.
Investing activities during the nine months ended October 1, 2017 used cash of $188.3 million, due to $1,036.5 million used for purchases of marketable securities and $73.2 million used for purchases of property, plant and equipment, partially offset by $473.3 million and $443.2 million in proceeds from maturities and sales of marketable securities, respectively, and proceeds from property insurance of $5.1 million related to the Japan earthquake.
Financing activities during the nine months ended October 1, 2017, used cash of $182.7 million, due to $151.8 million used for the repurchase of 4.6 million shares of common stock at an average price of $32.66 per share, $41.7 million used for dividend payments, $12.6 million used for payments related to net settlements of employee stock compensation awards and $1.1 million used for a payment related to AIT acquisition contingent consideration, partially offset by $24.5 million from the issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase and stock option plans.
In January 2018, May 2018 and August 2018, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.09 per share. Dividend payments for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 were $51.3 million.
In January 2017 and May 2017 and August 2017, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per share. Dividend payments for the nine months ended October 1, 2017 were $41.7 million.
In January 2018, our Board of Directors cancelled the December 2016 stock repurchase program and authorized a new stock repurchase program for up to $1.5 billion of common stock. We intend to repurchase $750 million in 2018. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we repurchased 13.8 million shares of common stock for $562.3 million at an average price of $40.62 per share.
In December 2016, our Board of Directors approved a $500 million share repurchase authorization, which commenced on January 1, 2017. During the nine months ended October 1, 2017, we repurchased 4.6 million shares of common stock for $151.8 million at an average price of $32.66 per share.
While we declared a quarterly cash dividend and authorized a share repurchase program, we may reduce or eliminate the cash dividend or share repurchase program in the future. Future cash dividends and stock repurchases are subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors, which will consider, among other things, our earnings, capital requirements and financial condition.
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