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
 
Market Information
 
Our common stock is listed and traded on the NYSE-American exchange under the symbol “NHC”. On December 31, 2020, NHC had approximately 8,300 stockholders, comprised of approximately 2,000 stockholders of record and an additional 6,300 stockholders indicated by security position listings.
 
Dividend Policy
 
We do not have a formal dividend policy, but we currently intend to continue to pay regular quarterly dividends to the holders of our common stock. The Company has paid a common dividend since 2004, although there can be no assurances that our quarterly dividends will be declared, paid or increased in the future.
 
Stock Repurchase Programs
 
In 2020, the Company purchased 797 shares of its common stock for a total cost of $53,000. In 2019, the Company purchased 10,396 shares of its common stock for a total cost of $872,000. In 2018, the Company repurchased 14,506 shares of its common stock for a total cost of $867,000. The shares were funded from cash on hand and were cancelled and returned to the status of authorized but unissued.
 
Equity Compensation Plans
 
The following table sets forth information regarding our equity compensation plans:
 
Plan Category
 
Number of securities to be
issued upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
 
 
Weighted average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
 
 
Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans (excluding
securities reflected in
column (a))
 
 
 
(a)
 
 
(b)
 
 
(c)
 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
 
866,956
 
 
$72.11
 
 
2,444,943
 
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
 
–
 
 
–
 
 
–
 
Total
 
866,956
 
 
$72.11
 
 
2,444,943
 
 
22
Table of Contents
 
The following graph and chart compare the cumulative total stockholder return for the period from December 31, 2015 through December 31, 2020 on an investment of $100 in (i) NHC’s common stock, (ii) the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index ("S&P 500 Index") and (iii) the Standard & Poor’s Health Care Index ("S&P Health Care Index"). Cumulative total stockholder return assumes the reinvestment of all dividends. Stock price performances shown in the graph are not necessarily indicative of future price performances.
 
 
 
ITEM 6.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
Part II, Item 6 is no longer required as the Company has adopted certain provisions within the amendments to Regulation S-K that eliminate Item 301.