Stock Buybacks Are Expected To Rise Markedly Thanks To Tax Reform

Bob Carey
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Stock Buybacks Are Expected To Rise Markedly Thanks To Tax Reform

Posted Under: Sectors

View from the Observation Deck

The Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, signed into law on 12/22/17, lowered the federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% beginning in 2018.
The new tax law also established a 15.5% tax rate on cash and equivalent profits (liquid assets) and an 8.0% tax rate on reinvested foreign earnings (non-liquid assets) repatriated to the U.S.
In Q4'17, S&P 500 Industrials (Old), defined as the S&P 500 minus Financials, Transportation, Real Estate and Utilities companies, had cash and equivalent holdings totaling an all-time high of $1.636 trillion, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. We believe that the new tax law could potentially push that total higher moving forward, as well as provide additional capital for stock buybacks.
S&P Dow Jones Indices estimates that S&P 500 Index companies spent $519.40 billion on buybacks in 2017 and $2.66 trillion for the five-year period ended 2017.
As indicated in the chart, Information Technology was the most active sector with respect to buyback activity over the past five years. Technology companies repurchased stock valued at $664.8 billion. Financials and Consumer Discretionary followed with buybacks totaling $457.3 billion and $417.1 billion, respectively.
Goldman Sachs analysts estimate that companies in the S&P 500 Index will spend $650 billion on stock buybacks in 2018, while JPMorgan Chase & Co. strategists see that figure approaching $800 billion, according to Bloomberg.

This chart is for illustrative purposes only and not indicative of any actual investment. Investors cannot invest directly in an index. The S&P 500 Index is a capitalization-weighted index comprised of 500 stocks (currently 505) used to measure large-cap U.S. stock market performance, while the 11 major S&P 500 Sector Indices are capitalization-weighted and comprised of S&P 500 constituents representing a specific sector.

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Posted on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 @ 2:16 PM • Post Link

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These posts were prepared by First Trust Advisors L.P., and reflect the current opinion of the authors. They are based upon sources and data believed to be accurate and reliable. Opinions and forward looking statements expressed are subject to change without notice. This information does not constitute a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any security.

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