In this article, we will discuss 20 Stocks with the Biggest Share Buybacks.

Stocks with the biggest share buybacks over a 12-month period deserve close attention because they often reveal something serious investors care deeply about: how management allocates capital, how confident executives are in future cash flows, and whether shareholder returns are being prioritized. Buybacks are not just accounting events; they can be powerful signals.

For long-term investors, a large repurchase program usually means a company is generating excess free cash flow beyond what it needs for operations, debt service, and internal investment. Businesses that can consistently buy back billions of dollars in stock often have durable franchises, strong margins, and mature cash-generating models. That alone can narrow the field to higher-quality companies.

Buybacks also directly affect per-share value. When a company reduces its share count, each remaining shareholder owns a larger percentage of the business. If earnings stay flat or rise, earnings per share can grow faster simply because there are fewer shares outstanding. That can support stock prices over time and often enhances total returns when combined with dividends.

Serious investors also track buybacks because they provide insight into management discipline. Executives who repurchase stock aggressively when shares are undervalued may be creating substantial long-term value. Investors like Warren Buffett have long emphasized intelligent buybacks as one of the best uses of capital when a company’s stock trades below intrinsic value. By contrast, companies that buy back heavily at inflated valuations may be destroying value, which is equally important to identify.

There is also a market signaling effect. Large buyback announcements can indicate management believes the stock is attractive relative to other uses of capital, such as acquisitions or expansion. That confidence often matters to institutional investors.

Most importantly, stocks with the highest buybacks frequently overlap with sectors known for shareholder-friendly behavior—financials, energy, mature technology, and consumer leaders. Tracking them can uncover companies quietly compounding value while the market focuses elsewhere.

The bottom line: following 12-month buyback leaders helps serious investors spot cash-rich businesses, disciplined management teams, and companies actively increasing shareholder ownership—all traits that can matter greatly over time.

With this context in mind, here are the 20 stocks with the biggest share buybacks in the 12-month period ending in September 2025.

Our Methodology

For this article, we used a report from S&P Dow Jones Indices, which compiled data on share buyback activity in 2025. From this detailed report, we picked 20 companies with the highest amount of share buybacks in terms of dollar value in the 12-month period ending September 2025.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 498.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 303 percentage points (see more details here).

20 Stocks with the Biggest Share Buybacks

20. The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW)

Stock Buybacks in 12 Months Through September 2025: $4.58 billion

The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) received a revised analyst outlook on April 20 when Argus lowered its price target to $108 from $117 while maintaining a Buy rating following first-quarter results. The firm highlighted that revenue increased a strong 16%, supported by gains across major operating categories, while net interest margin expanded and total client assets reached $11.8 trillion. Argus added that it expects Schwab to deliver above-peer-average medium-term growth driven by innovative product offerings and continued market share gains.

On April 17, Morgan Stanley analyst Michael Cyprys lowered the price target on The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) to $125 from $135 while reiterating an Overweight rating. The analyst stated that the first-quarter report reinforced what the firm views as an increasingly differentiated earnings and growth profile within the brokerage sector, and following the release, Morgan Stanley raised its fiscal 2026 and 2027 EPS estimates by 3.6% and 4.7%, respectively.

The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) is a leading financial services company providing securities brokerage, banking, wealth management, and advisory solutions to retail investors and institutional clients. Founded in 1971 in San Francisco, the company is now headquartered in Westlake, Texas.

Despite modest price target reductions, both firms maintained constructive ratings while citing stronger earnings momentum, asset growth, and rising profitability metrics. Combined with $4.58 billion of stock repurchases over the prior twelve months, SCHW appears well-positioned to compound shareholder value through earnings growth and capital returns.

19. American Express Company (NYSE:AXP)

Stock Buybacks in 12 Months Through September 2025: $5.95 billion

American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) received a bullish analyst revision on April 28 when Goldman Sachs raised its price target to $400 from $360 while maintaining a Buy rating on the shares. The increase signals growing confidence in the company’s earnings resilience, premium customer base, and ability to sustain strong spending trends despite a more mixed macroeconomic backdrop.

On April 24, Bank of America raised its price target on American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) to $387 from $381 and reiterated a Buy rating following strong first-quarter results that exceeded expectations on both revenue and earnings. The firm stated that the performance supports its view that higher-income consumers remain financially healthy and continue to spend at robust levels.

American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) is a global financial services company founded in 1850 and headquartered in New York City. The company specializes in charge cards, credit cards, travel services, banking products, and business expense management solutions, with a strong brand presence in premium rewards and affluent consumer markets.

Rising analyst targets and strong quarterly execution suggest AXP continues to benefit from durable demand among higher-income customers and strong brand loyalty. Supported by $5.95 billion of share repurchases over the last twelve months, the company offers an attractive combination of earnings growth and shareholder returns.