Item 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Principal Market

The Company’s common stock began trading in the over-the-counter market on November 8, 1990 and was subsequently quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “HANS”. On July 5, 2007, the Company’s common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the same symbol, “HANS”. On January 5, 2012, stockholders of the Company approved the Company’s name change from Hansen Natural Corporation to Monster Beverage Corporation. In addition, on January 9, 2012, the Company’s common stock began trading under the symbol “MNST”. As of February 10, 2017, there were 566,619,343 shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding held by approximately 223 holders of record. The holders of record do not include those stockholders whose shares are held of record by banks, brokers and other financial institutions.

Stock Price and Dividend Information

On October 14, 2016, the Company announced a three-for-one stock split of the Company’s common stock to be effected in the form of a 200% stock dividend. The common stock dividend was issued on November 9, 2016 and the Company’s common stock began trading at the split adjusted price on November 10, 2016. (See Note 1 – “Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” for additional information”).

The following table sets forth high and low per share sales price of our common stock for the periods indicated:

The per share sales prices of our common stock set forth above represent bid quotations between dealers, do not include retail markups, mark-downs or commissions and bid quotations may not necessarily represent actual transactions and “real time” sale prices. The source of the bid information is the NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc.

We have not paid cash dividends to our stockholders since our inception and do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

On April 28, 2016, our Board of Directors authorized the Company to commence the Auction Stock Repurchase Tender to repurchase up to $2.0 billion of its outstanding shares of common stock. The Auction Stock Repurchase Tender was authorized under the Company’s existing share repurchase authority and was funded with cash on hand. We commenced this tender offer in May 2016. On June 15, 2016, we accepted for payment an aggregate of 38.5 million shares of common stock at a purchase price of $52.00 per share, for a total amount of $2.0 billion (excluding commissions), which exhausted the availability under all previously authorized share repurchase plans. Such shares of common stock are included in common stock in treasury in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2016. We incurred $1.6 million in stock repurchase expenses for the year ended December 31, 2016 related to the Auction Stock Repurchase Tender.

On August 2, 2016, our Board of Directors authorized a new share repurchase program for the repurchase of up to $250.0 million of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock (the “August 2016 Repurchase Plan”). During the year ended December 31, 2016, we purchased 5.8 million shares of common stock at an average purchase price of $43.40 per share, for a total amount of $249.9 million (excluding broker commissions), which exhausted the availability under the August 2016 Repurchase Plan. Such shares of common stock are included in common stock in treasury in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2016.

During the year ended December 31, 2016, 56,820 shares of common stock were purchased from employees in lieu of cash payments for options exercised or withholding taxes due for a total amount of $2.6 million. While such purchases are considered common stock repurchases, they are not counted as purchases against our authorized share repurchase programs. Such shares are included in common stock in treasury in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2016.

The following tabular summary reflects the Company’s repurchase activity during the quarter ended December 31, 2016:

¹Excluding broker commissions paid.

²Net of broker commissions paid.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2016 with respect to shares of our common stock that may be issued under our equity compensation plans.

Performance Graph

The following graph shows a five-year comparison of cumulative total returns:1

1Annual return assumes reinvestment of dividends. Cumulative total return assumes an initial investment of $100 on December 31, 2011. The Company’s current self-selected peer group is comprised of TCCC, DPS Group, National Beverage Corporation, Jones Soda Company and Cott Corporation.