Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “AYI.” At October 22, 2021, there were 1,948 stockholders of record. The information required by this item with respect to equity compensation plans is included under the caption Equity Compensation Plans in our proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held January 5, 2022, which we will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A. The proxy statement is incorporated herein by reference.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
In March 2018, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) authorized the repurchase of up to six million shares of our common stock. As of October 22, 2020, 2.2 million shares were available for repurchase under this authorization. On October 23, 2020, the Board authorized the repurchase of an additional 3.8 million shares of our common stock, bringing our total authorization back to six million shares at that time. Under the new increased share repurchase authorization, we may repurchase shares of our common stock from time to time at prevailing market prices, depending on market conditions, through open market or privately negotiated transactions. No date has been established for the completion of the share repurchase program, and we are not obligated to repurchase any shares. Subject to applicable corporate securities laws, repurchases may be made at such times and in such amounts as management deems appropriate. Repurchases under the program can be discontinued at any time management feels additional repurchases are not warranted.
As of August 31, 2021, the maximum number of shares that may yet be repurchased under the share repurchase program authorized by the Board equaled 3.8 million shares. The following table summarizes share repurchase activity by month for the quarter ended August 31, 2021:
Period Total Number of Shares Purchased Average Price Paid per Share Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans
6/1/2021 through 6/30/2021 — $ — — 4,399,804
7/1/2021 through 7/31/2021 331,567 $ 168.88 331,567 4,068,237
8/1/2021 through 8/31/2021 230,013 $ 180.21 230,013 3,838,224
Total 561,580 $ 173.80 561,580 3,838,224
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Company Stock Performance
The following information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K is not deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C under the Exchange Act or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, and it will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent specifically incorporated by reference into such filing.
The following graph compares the cumulative total return to shareholders on our outstanding stock during the five years ended August 31, 2021, with the cumulative total returns of the Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) Midcap 400 Index, the Dow Jones U.S. Electrical Components & Equipment Index, and the Dow Jones U.S. Building Materials & Fixtures Index. We are a component of both the S&P Midcap 400 Index and the Dow Jones U.S. Building Materials & Fixtures Index. The Dow Jones U.S. Electrical Components & Equipment Index is included in the following graph as the parent companies of several major lighting companies are included in the index.
COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among Acuity Brands, Inc., the S&P Midcap 400 Index,
the Dow Jones U.S. Electrical Components & Equipment Index,
and the Dow Jones U.S. Building Materials & Fixtures Index
*Assumes $100 invested on August 31, 2016 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends.
Aug-16 Aug-17 Aug-18 Aug-19 Aug-20 Aug-21
Acuity Brands, Inc. $ 100 $ 64 $ 56 $ 46 $ 40 $ 68
S&P Midcap 400 Index 100 112 135 126 131 187
Dow Jones U.S. Electrical Components & Equipment Index 100 125 146 131 151 219
Dow Jones U.S. Building Materials & Fixtures Index 100 105 111 123 145 230
Item 6. [Reserved]
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