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
General Market Information, Holders and Dividends
Our common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol "TREE". As of February 18, 2022, there were approximately 528 holders of record of our common stock.
We have no current intention to declare or pay cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. The declaration, payment and amount of future cash dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our board of directors.
Performance Graph
The performance graph shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or incorporated by reference into any filings under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except as otherwise expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Set forth below is a line graph, for the period from December 31, 2016 through December 31, 2021, comparing the cumulative total stockholder return of $100 invested (assuming that all dividends were reinvested) in (1) our common stock, (2) the cumulative return of all companies listed on the Nasdaq Composite Index and (3) the cumulative total return of the Research Development Group ("RDG") Internet index. Returns over the indicated periods should not be considered indicative of future stock prices or stockholder returns.
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Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
During the year ended December 31, 2021, we did not issue or sell any shares of our common stock or other equity securities in transactions that were not registered under the Securities Act.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
In each of February 2018 and February 2019, the board of directors authorized and we announced a stock repurchase program which allowed for the repurchase of up to $100.0 million and $150.0 million, respectively, of our common stock. Under this program, we can repurchase stock in the open market or through privately-negotiated transactions. We have used available cash to finance these repurchases. We will determine the timing and amount of any additional repurchases based on our evaluation of market conditions, applicable SEC guidelines and regulations, and other factors. This program may be suspended or discontinued at any time at the discretion of our board of directors. During the quarter ended December 31, 2021, 334,253 shares of common stock were repurchased under the stock repurchase program. As of February 18, 2022, approximately $121.7 million is authorized for future share repurchases.
Additionally, the LendingTree Seventh Amended and Restated 2008 Stock Plan approved by our stockholders on June 9, 2021 allows, and the LendingTree 2017 Inducement Grant Plan terminated by us in April 2021 allowed, employees to forfeit shares of our common stock to satisfy federal and state withholding obligations upon the exercise of stock options, the settlement of restricted stock unit awards and the vesting of restricted stock awards granted to those individuals under the plans. During the quarter ended December 31, 2021, 8,637 shares were purchased related to these obligations under the LendingTree Seventh Amended and Restated 2008 Stock Plan and 1,085 shares were purchased related to these obligations under the LendingTree 2017 Inducement Grant Plan. The withholding of those shares does not affect the dollar amount or number of shares that may be purchased under the stock repurchase program described above.
The following table provides information about the Company's purchases of equity securities during the quarter ended December 31, 2021.
Period Total Number of
Shares Purchased (1)
Average Price
Paid per Share Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs (2)
Approximate
Dollar Value of Shares
that May Yet be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs
(in thousands)
10/1/21 - 10/31/21 6,472 $ 151.73 — $ 179,673
11/1/21 - 11/30/21 141,399 $ 128.22 141,225 $ 161,566
12/1/21 - 12/31/21 196,104 $ 113.55 193,028 $ 139,665
Total 343,975 $ 120.30 334,253 $ 139,665
(1) During October 2021, November 2021 and December 2021, 6,472 shares, 174 shares and 3,076 shares, respectively (totaling 9,722 shares), were purchased to satisfy federal and state withholding obligations of our employees upon the settlement of restricted stock units and restricted stock awards, all in accordance with our Seventh Amended and Restated 2008 Stock Plan and 2017 Inducement Grant Plan, as described above.
(2) See the narrative disclosure above the table for further description of our publicly announced stock repurchase program.
ITEM 6. [Reserved]
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