Apple Inc. (AAPL), DIRECTV (DTV): Earnings Yield and Evaluating Stock Buybacks Funded With Debt

Using borrowed money to buyback stock is all the rage nowadays, as companies make use of the low interest rates and insatiable demand in the bond markets to issue debt and then return the money to shareholders.

But how useful and how effective is this method? I am skeptical of any company that issues debt in order to buy back stock, as most companies tend to pay too much for their shares while buying back.

The effectiveness of buybacks that are funded through debt can be worked out with a comparison between the company’s earnings yield and the after tax cost of its borrowing.

The earnings yield per share is the total of ttm earnings per share and its dividend by the company’s share price. This figure shows investors the percentage of each dollar invested in the stock that was earned by the company.

The earnings yield can also be used to determine whether or not the company is over, or undervalued when compared to the prevailing interest rate, or risk free rate such as the 10-year Treasury. If the earnings yield is below the risk free rate, then the stock is overvalued.

So, here are three different companies buying back stock with debt and the effectiveness of their buyback programs measured by the earnings yield.

The new kid on the block

There has been much fuss around Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)‘s buyback plan, but how much will it benefit shareholders?

Before buyback
Share price	$457.00
EPS	$42.26
Earnings Yield	9.25%
After tax cost of borrowing	2.97%
Number of outstanding shares	945,360,000
Planned buybacks	38,000,000

Figures for current stock buyback

At a closing price of $457 a share on May 11, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s earnings yield was 9.25%. The company borrowed $17 billion of differing maturities at an average yield of 2.97%, which will buy back 38 million shares at Friday’s closing price.

Assuming the company’s earnings remain constant, discounting interest, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)will earn $41.2 billion for fiscal 2013 and with the reduced number of shares in issue, Apple will earn $45.41 per share for the year, up around 7% thanks to the buyback.

After Buyback
Earnings after borrowing cost	$41,200,000,000
Shares outstanding	907,360,000
EPS	$45.41

Figures for current stock buyback

Apple’s earnings yield is significantly above the the company’s cost of borrowing, so earnings per share will be higher than the pre-purchase level. Additionally, with an earnings yield of 9.25% Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) would appear to be undervalued when compared to the US 10-year, which currently yields 1.9%.

A tobacco company borrowing for buybacks

Is Lorillard Inc. (NYSE:LO)’s recent buyback program funded through debt going to provide a decent return for shareholders?