When a corporation buys its own outstanding shares. Commonly referred to as repurchasing shares, buyback lowers the number of shares that are accessible on the open market, often time causing the price to rise. Companies repurchase shares for a variety of purposes, including to boost the value of the shares still in circulation by cutting back on supply or to prevent other shareholders from acquiring a controlling interest.
Understanding buybacks
Companies invest in themselves through buybacks. Reducing market share promotes investor ownership. A firm may purchase back undervalued shares to reward investors.
A repurchase improves a share's fraction of earnings because the company is positive on its existing operations. Keeping the same price-to-earnings ratio will enhance the stock price. The share repurchase reduces the quantity of shares, increasing each's value. EPS grows as P/E ratio drops or company price rises.
A share repurchase shows investors that the company has emergency liquidity and low economic risk.
Another buyback motivation is compensation. Companies give stock rewards and options to employees and management. Companies buy back shares to reward staff and management. This prevents shareholder dilution.
The Stock Buyback Reform and Worker Dividend Act of 2019 tried to address the use of buybacks to raise executive remuneration, however it never passed the Senate.
Repurchase
There are two buyback methods:
- Shareholders may be offered a tender offer where they can submit all or part of their shares within a defined time limit at a premium to the current market price. This premium pays investors for tendering shares.
- Companies buy back shares on the open market over time and may have a specified share repurchase program.
A repurchase might be funded by debt, cash on hand, or operating cash flow. A company's existing share repurchase program is expanded. An increased buyback accelerates a company's share repurchase program and shrinks its float. An enlarged buyback's market impact depends on its size. A substantial, expanded buyback may boost the stock price.
The buyback ratio compares the past year's buyback dollars to the company's market capitalization at the start of the buyback period. The buyback ratio compares repurchases across corporations. Companies that regularly purchase back shares have historically outperformed the market.
Buyback example
A company's shares underperformed despite a strong year financially. The company has announced a share buyback program to repurchase up to 10% of its issued and outstanding shares at the prevailing market price as a way to thank and reward shareholders.
Before the repurchase, the company earned $1 million and had 1 million outstanding shares, for $1 EPS. 20 P/E ratio at $20 per share. If 100,000 shares are repurchased, the new EPS would be $1.11, or $1 million in earnings across 900,000 shares. To maintain a P/E of 20, shares must rise 11% to $22.22.
Buyback criticism
A share repurchase can give investors the idea that the company has no alternative profitable growth opportunities, which is a problem for growth investors. Market or economic changes don't need a company to repurchase shares.
Repurchasing shares puts a company in danger if the economy tanks or it confronts financial problems. Others claim buybacks are used to artificially raise share prices, leading to larger CEO incentives.
Why do companies buyback stock
Companies invest in themselves through buybacks. If a firm thinks its shares are undervalued, it may purchase them back to reward investors. The share repurchase reduces the quantity of shares, increasing each's value. Another buyback motivation is compensation. A repurchase helps current shareholders avoid dilution when companies provide employees and managers stock awards and options. Buybacks can prevent other shareholders from gaining control.
What's a buyback
A firm can issue a premium tender offer to shareholders, who can submit all or part of their shares within a set time limit.
A corporation may also operate a share repurchase program that buys shares on the open market at set times or intervals.
A repurchase might be funded by debt, cash on hand, or operating cash flow.
Buyback criticisms
Buybacks create the impression that a company has no other revenue development opportunities. Buying back a company's shares during a recession would hurt its finances. Buybacks are sometimes accused for boosting share prices, which can justify greater CEO incentives.