Re:Stock buybacks are dangerous for the economy
by pauljurczak on Wednesday March 18, 2020 @02:51AM
(#22614265)
Really? So why they are asking for a bailout now if they had not deprived themselves of needed liquidity? Have they not noticed the cyclical nature of economy?
What is happening is executive suite milks the cow to death as fast as possible, because there no adverse consequences for them. They think they will be safe in their bunkers in New Zealand when the shit hits the fan.
Re:Stock buybacks are dangerous for the economy
by IanDrake on Wednesday March 18, 2020 @09:15AM
(#22616252)
Who took on more debt just for stock buyback that is now asking for a bailout?
Re:Stock buybacks are dangerous for the economy
by pauljurczak on Thursday March 19, 2020 @04:40PM
(#22631494)
It's not necessarily about taking debt to buyback their stock. It is about free cash flow. Here are some facts:
"As a group, the six [major US] airlines spent 96% of their free cash flow on stock buybacks over the past 10 full years through 2019."
"Boeing’s free cash flow for 10 years totaled $58.37 billion, while the company spent $43.44 billion, or 74% of free cash flow, on stock repurchases."
No one is depriving themselves of needed liquidity. Liquidity-need is forecasted, as is the expected IRR for the cash on hand if it were re-invested into the company. Ultimately, companies decided share holders got the best return with buybacks.