Item 5. MARKET FOR OUR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
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Item 5. MARKET FOR OUR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
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Our common shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FRT.” Listed below are the high and low closing prices of our common shares as reported on the New York Stock Exchange and the dividends declared for each of the periods indicated.
| Price Per Share | Dividends Declared Per Share | ||||||||
| High | Low | ||||||||
| 2008 | |||||||||
| Fourth quarter | $ | 84.96 | $ | 43.46 | $ | 0.650 | |||
| Third quarter | $ | 95.00 | $ | 61.87 | $ | 0.650 | |||
| Second quarter | $ | 85.00 | $ | 68.25 | $ | 0.610 | |||
| First quarter | $ | 83.41 | $ | 61.60 | $ | 0.610 | |||
| 2007 | |||||||||
| Fourth quarter | $ | 95.19 | $ | 78.58 | $ | 0.610 | |||
| Third quarter | $ | 88.92 | $ | 73.82 | $ | 0.610 | |||
| Second quarter | $ | 92.59 | $ | 75.27 | $ | 0.575 | |||
| First quarter | $ | 97.12 | $ | 81.93 | $ | 0.575 |
On February 24, 2009, there were 4,115 holders of record of our common shares.
Our ongoing operations generally will not be subject to federal income taxes as long as we maintain our REIT status and distribute to shareholders at least 100% of our REIT taxable income. Under the Code, REITs are subject to numerous organizational and operational requirements, including the requirement to generally distribute at least 90% of REIT taxable income.
Future distributions will be at the discretion of our Board of Trustees and will depend on our actual net income available for common shareholders, financial condition, capital requirements, the annual distribution requirements under the REIT provisions of the Code and such other factors as the Board of Trustees deems relevant. We have paid quarterly dividends to our shareholders continuously since our founding in 1962 and have increased our regular annual dividend rate for 41 consecutive years.
Our total annual dividends paid per common share for 2008 and 2007 were $2.480 per share and $2.335 per share, respectively. The annual dividend amounts are different from dividends as calculated for federal income tax purposes. Distributions to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits for federal income tax purposes generally will be taxable to a shareholder as ordinary dividend income. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a nontaxable reduction of the shareholder’s basis in such shareholder’s shares, to the extent thereof, and thereafter as taxable capital gain. Distributions that are treated as a reduction of the shareholder’s basis in its shares will have the effect of increasing the amount of gain, or reducing the amount of loss, recognized upon the sale of the shareholder’s shares. No assurances can be given regarding what portion, if any, of distributions in 2009 or subsequent years will constitute a return of capital for federal income tax purposes. During a year in which a REIT earns a net long-term capital gain, the REIT can elect under Code Sec. 857(b)(3) to designate a portion of dividends paid to shareholders as capital gain dividends. If this election is made, then the capital gain dividends are taxable to the shareholder as long-term capital gains.
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The following table reflects the income tax status of distributions per share paid to common shareholders:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||
| 2008 | 2007 | |||||
| Ordinary dividend | $ | 2.455 | $ | 2.174 | ||
| Ordinary dividend eligible for 15% tax rate | 0.025 | 0.044 | ||||
| Capital gain | — | 0.117 | ||||
| $ | 2.480 | $ | 2.335 | |||
Distributions on our 5.417% Series 1 Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares were paid at the rate of $1.354 per share per annum commencing on the issuance date of March 8, 2007. We do not believe that the preferential rights available to the holders of our preferred shares or the financial covenants contained in our debt agreements had or will have an adverse effect on our ability to pay dividends in the normal course of business to our common shareholders or to distribute amounts necessary to maintain our qualification as a REIT.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Shares
Under the terms of various operating partnership agreements of certain of our affiliated limited partnerships, the interest of limited partners in those limited partnerships may be redeemed, subject to certain conditions, for cash or an equivalent number of our common shares, at our option. During the three months ended December 31, 2008, 3,000 operating partnership units were redeemed for cash. All other equity securities sold by us during 2008 that were not registered have been previously reported in a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
No equity securities were purchased by us during 2008. However, 13,961 common shares were placed into treasury as a result of restricted shares forfeited by former employees.
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