According to the latest research from Goldman Sachs, American corporations have announced plans to return over a record $1 trillion to shareholders. However, the investment bank was quick to note that this type of exuberance was felt around the time of the last financial crisis and should be treated as a warning sign instead of applauded. It builds on the notion that corporations are quickly adding debt at an increasingly furious pace, heightening the risks as companies deploy nearly one-third of available cash to reward shareholders. Further to this point, in Apple’s earnings announcement yesterday, the company announced plans to boost buybacks from $90 billion to $140 billion, using debt markets to raise additional funds. Debt at the company which during Steve Job’s tenure carried no debt at all, has now seen total outstanding bonds issued at $43.9 billion.
US Stocks Struggle Despite Earnings
Daily Analysis - 28/04/2015