LIVE MARKETS-Buyback plans are slowing but 2026 may still be a record
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BUYBACK PLANS ARE SLOWING BUT 2026 MAY STILL BE A RECORD
In a choppy year for share buybacks, EPFR is reporting "exceptionally light" announcements so far in September.
After announcements of buyback authorizations adding up to $973.7 billion in the first six months of the year, EPFR analyst Winston Chua notes that momentum has "reversed sharply" since mid-year.
From July through September 23, buyback announcements of $196.4 billion compared with $368.5 billion in the same timeframe a year ago, marking a decline of roughly 50%.
And with just a week left in September at the time of his tally, announcements had totaled $20 billion compared with the $67 billion total for September in 2025 and the 10-year September average of $61.5 billion, according to the data from EPFR, a unit of ISI Markets.
The slowdown comes after the $133.8 billion announced in August and $42.8 billion in July.
"If this month’s figures fall below $25 billion, it will mark the second-lowest September volume in 15 years," according to Chua, but he wrote that the slowdown appeared to reflect "a lack of large programs rather than a broad-based retreat from buybacks."
But even with the recent slowdown, he wrote that a strong first half of 2026 means that a full-year record is still within reach.
"Roughly $250 billion of additional announcements would still surpass 2025’s $1.39 trillion total," he wrote, noting that in the last five years fourth-quarter buybacks averaged $271 billion.
Monthly buyback announcements for 2025 vs. 2026 from EPFR:
(Sinéad Carew)
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