Endless Dollars For Share Buyback Plans (GPS, HPQ, MRVL, INTU, JWN, RSH, RL, DTV, DISCA, AMTD, IT)

Investing

Published: September 1, 2010 9:05 am

Last Updated: April 27, 2020 8:49 pm

Buybacks may not be considered the best return of capital by many investors and market pundits, but they are M&A-alternatives for management of companies. The amount of share buybacks announced in August was a monster figure. Out of just the buybacks we have counted, which are only equity and not any debt pay-down buybacks, the total came to more than $26 billion. Some of the larger buybacks and buyback add-ons came from Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS), Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ), Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: MRVL), Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ: INTU), Nordstrom Inc. (NYSE: JWN), RadioShack Corporation (NYSE: RSH), Polo Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL), DIRECTV (NASDAQ: DTV), Discovery Communications Inc (NASDAQ: DISCA), TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: AMTD), and Gartner Inc. (NYSE: IT).

Even if you count that $10 billion from Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ), the activity was massive. As you will see below, there are more than 25 buybacks counted in August. This table does not even include all of the other sub-$100 million deals from smaller companies. There were dozens of other companies which updated their share buyback plans not covered.

BUYBACK ANNOUNCEMENTS	SIZE (MIL$)
Fossil, Inc. (NASDAQ: FOSL)	$750
ATMI Inc. (NASDAQ: ATMI)	$50
Qlogic Corp. (NASDAQ: QLGC)	$200
Oil States International Inc. (NYSE: OIS)	$100
White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (NYSE: WTM)	$180
Veeco Instruments Inc. (NASDAQ: VECO)	$200
Myriad Genetics Inc. (NASDAQ: MYGN)	$100
Ann Taylor Stores Corporation (NYSE: ANN)	$400
Dillard’s Inc. (NYSE: DDS)	$250
Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS)	$750
Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ)	$10,000
Lorillard, Inc. (NYSE: LO)	$1,000
Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: MRVL)	$500
Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ: INTU)	$2,000
The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLCE)	$100
Nordstrom Inc. (NYSE: JWN)	$500
RadioShack Corporation (NYSE: RSH)	$500
Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ: RMBS)	$90
Research In Motion Limited (NASDAQ: RIMM)	$80
Flextronics International Ltd. (NASDAQ: FLEX)	$200
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: RNR)	$500
TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: AMTD)	$500
Advance Auto Parts (NYSE: AAP)	$300
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG)	$500
Polo Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL)	$250
VeriSign Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN)	$1,100
DIRECTV (NASDAQ: DTV)	$2,000
Discovery Communications Inc (NASDAQ: DISCA)	$1,000
Gartner Inc. (NYSE: IT)	$500
WMS Industries Inc. (NYSE: WMS)	$300
Focus Media Holding Limited (NASDAQ: FMCN)	$300
Plum Creek Timber Co. (NYSE: PCL)	$200
Atmel Corporation (NASDAQ: ATML)	$200
W. R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE: WRB)	$260
Skyworks Solutions (NASDAQ: SWKS)	$200
Owens Corning (NYSE: OC)	$285
WebMD Health Corp. (NASDAQ: WBMD)	$150
Total Counted Buybacks	$26,495

You can join our free daily email distribution list to hear more about dividend trends, analyst upgrades and downgrades, top day trader and active trader alerts, news on Buffett and other investment gurus, IPOs, secondary offerings, private equity, and more.

JON C. OGG

Travel Cards Are Getting Too Good To Ignore

Credit card companies are pulling out all the stops, with the issuers are offering insane travel rewards and perks.

We’re talking huge sign-up bonuses, points on every purchase, and benefits like lounge access, travel credits, and free hotel nights. For travelers, these rewards can add up to thousands of dollars in flights, upgrades, and luxury experiences every year.

It’s like getting paid to travel — and it’s available to qualified borrowers who know where to look.

We’ve rounded up some of the best travel credit cards on the market. Click here to see the list. Don’t miss these offers — they won’t be this good forever.