| Schedule of number of shares of common stock and treasury stock and the share activity |
The number of shares of common stock and treasury stock and the share activity were as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Common Shares | | Treasury Shares | | 2024 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2024 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | Balance at the beginning of the year | 71,679,658 | | | 70,848,810 | | | 70,370,812 | | | 5,775,295 | | | 5,555,027 | | | 4,852,709 | | | Employee option exercises | 629,541 | | | 679,878 | | | 301,463 | | | (192,123) | | | (178,326) | | | (157,682) | | | Director option exercises | 6,500 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | Restricted stock vestings | 150,849 | | | 150,970 | | | 176,535 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | Common stock repurchases | — | | | — | | | — | | | 432,600 | | | 398,594 | | | 860,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Balance at the end of the year | 72,466,548 | | | 71,679,658 | | | 70,848,810 | | | 6,015,772 | | | 5,775,295 | | | 5,555,027 | |
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