.00 billion authorized shares of common stock and 200 million authorized shares of nonvoting common stock , each with a par value of $ 0.01 per share . dividends declared per common share were $ 2.90 in 2017 , $ 2.60 in 2016 and $ 2.55 in 2015 . on january 16 , 2018 , the board of directors of group inc . ( board ) declared a dividend of $ 0.75 per common share to be paid on march 29 , 2018 to common shareholders of record on march 1 , 2018