U.S. companies are on track to repurchase a record $1.1 trillion in shares in 2025, marking the highest level of stock buybacks since data tracking began in 1982, according to Birinyi Associates and reports from the Wall Street Journal. As of August 2025, $983.6 billion worth of buybacks have already been announced, representing the fastest start to a year on record. July alone saw $165.6 billion in buybacks, an 88% increase compared to the previous peak in 2007. Apple Inc. is the largest single purchaser, having committed approximately $100 billion this year and repurchased about 900 million shares valued at roughly $158 billion since November 2022. Over the past 12 years, Apple has reduced its shares outstanding by 44%. Additionally, LS Corp has announced the cancellation of 1 million treasury shares, equivalent to 3.1% of its outstanding shares, signaling its intent to enhance shareholder returns. This surge in buybacks builds on the $942.5 billion repurchased by U.S. companies in 2024.