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
Shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “MELI”. As of December 31, 2022, the closing price of our common stock was $846.24 per share.
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Holders of record
As of January 31, 2023, we had 198 holders of record of our common stock. This figure does not reflect the beneficial ownership of shares held in nominee name. The following table sets forth, for the indicated periods, the high and low per share sale prices for our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market:
High Low
2022
1st quarter $ 1,332.94 $ 882.47
2nd quarter $ 1,265.01 $ 612.70
3rd quarter $ 1,082.66 $ 653.63
4th quarter $ 1,020.68 $ 756.88
2021
1st quarter $ 1,984.34 $ 1,369.54
2nd quarter $ 1,623.01 $ 1,296.65
3rd quarter $ 1,953.83 $ 1,497.27
4th quarter $ 1,709.98 $ 1,052.95
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
There were no sales of unregistered securities by us during the year ended December 31, 2022.
Dividend Policy
After reviewing the Company’s capital allocation process, the board of directors has concluded that it has multiple investment opportunities that can generate greater return to shareholders through investing capital into the business over a dividend policy. Consequently, the board of directors suspended the payment of dividend to shareholders as from the first quarter of 2018.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Information regarding securities authorized for issuance under the Company’s equity compensation plan as of December 31, 2022 is set forth in “Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholders Matters.”
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Period Total Number of Shares Purchased (2) Average Price per Share (1) Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (2) Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Program (in millions) (2)
October, 2022 — — — Up to $114
November, 2022 7,116 1,865.75 7,116 Up to $101
December, 2022 30,027 1,768.69 30,027 Up to $48
(1) Average price paid per share does not include costs associated with the repurchase s. It includes the foreign exchange loss recognized for the year ended December 31, 2022 . Please refer to Note 25 of our audited consolidated financial statements for additional detail.
(2) On August 4, 2021, the Board authorized the Company to repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock, for aggregate consideration of up to $150 million . This authorization was scheduled to expire on August 31, 2022. On March 1, 2022, the Board authorized an increase in that authorization of $300 million, from an aggregate consideration of up to $150 million to an aggregate consideration of up to $450 million (the “Existing Program”). On March 1, 2022,the Board also authorized a new extension of the term of the Existing Program, from August 31, 2022 to August 31, 2023 . As of December 31, 2022, the estimated remaining balance available for share repurchases under this Existing Program was $48 million . On February 21, 2023, the Board terminated the Existing Program and authorized a new program to repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock, for aggregate consideration of up to $900 million to expire on March 31, 2024 (the "Program"). Please refer to Note 25 of our audited consolidated financial statements for additional detail.
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Stock Performance Graph
The graph below shows the total stockholder return of an investment of $100 on December 31, 2017 through December 31, 2022 for (i) our common stock; (ii) The Nasdaq Composite Index; (iii) The S&P 500 Index; and (iv) the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index. Stock price performance shown in the graph below is not indicative of future stock price performance:
We cannot assure you that our share performance will continue into the future with the same or similar trends depicted in the graph above. We do not make or endorse any predictions as to our future stock performance.
The foregoing graph and chart shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Annual Report on Form 10-K into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent we specifically incorporate this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under those acts.
ITEM 6. RESERVED