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Bill Gurley & Michael Mauboussin - Putting Theory into Practice - [Invest Like the Best, EP.370]

Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy

NOTE

Buybacks and Earnings Per Share

Buybacks are not primarily done because a company's stock is undervalued but mainly to offset dilution from stock-based compensation. With low interest rates and high multiples, buybacks were accretive to earnings per share (EPS). However, the impact on EPS can vary as buybacks may involve giving up interest income from cash or incurring interest expenses from debt. The relationship between interest expenses and the company's price-earnings multiple influences the impact of buybacks on EPS. While buybacks were previously beneficial to EPS, the current landscape shows they are mostly neutral. This shift indicates that the significant EPS gains from buybacks have diminished, contrary to common beliefs based on traditional economic theories.

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