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 traded on the NYSE under the symbol “HIW.” On December 31, 2024, the Company had 571 common stockholders of record. There is no public trading market for the Common Units. On December 31, 2024, the Operating Partnership had 100 holders of record of Common Units (other than the Company). As of December 31, 2024, there were 107.6 million shares of Common Stock outstanding and 2.2 million Common Units outstanding not owned by the Company.
For information regarding our dividend payment history as well as a discussion of the factors that influence the decisions of the Company’s Board of Directors regarding dividends and distributions, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources - Dividends and Distributions.”
The following total return performance graph compares the performance of our Common Stock to the S&P 500 Index and the FTSE NAREIT Equity Office Index. The total return performance graph assumes an investment of $100 in our Common Stock and the two indices on December 31, 2019, and further assumes the reinvestment of all dividends. The FTSE NAREIT Equity Office Index consists of the REITs in the FTSE NAREIT All Equity REITs Index that principally operate in the office sector . Total return performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.
For the Period from December 31, 2019 to December 31,
Index 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Highwoods Properties, Inc. 85.24 100.26 66.60 59.85 85.65
S&P 500 Index 118.40 152.39 124.79 157.59 197.02
FTSE NAREIT Equity Office Index 81.56 99.51 62.07 63.34 76.95
The performance graph above is being furnished as part of this Annual Report solely in accordance with the requirement under Rule 14a-3(b)(9) to furnish the Company’s stockholders with such information and, therefore, is not deemed to be filed, or incorporated by reference in any filing, by the Company or the Operating Partnership under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
27
Table of Contents
The Company has a Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (“DRIP”) under which holders of Common Stock may elect to automatically reinvest their dividends in additional shares of Common Stock and make optional cash payments for additional shares of Common Stock. The Company satisfies its DRIP obligations by instructing the DRIP administrator to purchase Common Stock in the open market.
The Company has an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) pursuant to which employees may contribute up to 25% of their cash compensation for the purchase of Common Stock. At the end of each quarter, each participant’s account balance, which includes accumulated dividends, is applied to acquire shares of Common Stock at a cost that is calculated at 85% of the average closing price on the NYSE on the five consecutive days preceding the last day of the quarter. Generally, shares purchased under the ESPP must be held at least one year. The Company satisfies its ESPP obligations by issuing additional shares of Common Stock.
Information about the Company’s equity compensation plans and other related stockholder matters is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with its annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 13, 2025.
28
Table of Contents