HOW TO CASH IN ON STOCK BUYBACKS: Massive share repurchases often pay off for investors. Here's how to benefit

摘要

SHARE BUYBACKS HAVE BEEN generating buzz lately. In September activist investor Carl Icahn turned up the heat on Apple CEO Tim Cook to boost the company's share repurchase program, already the largest in U.S. history; Microsoft made a splash by earmarking an additional $40 billion for its massive program; and Walt Disney's stock jumped on news that it was planning a sharp increase in buybacks. Those are just the latest in a long line of large companies that have ratcheted up their repurchases. For shareholders, that generally bodes well, and these days it's easier than ever to capitalize on the trend.