U.S. companies have announced $983.6 billion in stock buybacks through August 2025, marking the fastest start to the year on record according to Birinyi Associates data dating back to 1982. The total buybacks for 2025 are projected to exceed $1.1 trillion, setting a new all-time high. July alone saw $165.6 billion in buybacks, an 88% increase compared to the previous peak in 2007. Major corporations leading these repurchases include Apple, which is expected to buy back $100 billion in shares, along with Google, JPMorgan, Bank of America, and Morgan Stanley. These buybacks have supported the S&P 500 during recent market volatility, contributing to fresh record highs. However, there has also been a notable increase in insider selling by company executives, reaching levels not seen since 2018. The buybacks not only boost earnings per share but also facilitate capital returns to both shareholders and selling executives. Historically, periods of aggressive corporate buybacks have correlated with significantly higher S&P 500 returns.