Apple's record $110 billion stock buyback is bigger than Boeing, Airbnb, and Chipotle

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Apple CEO Tim Cook at the opening of Shanghai's new Apple retail store in Shanghai on March 21, 2024.
Apple CEO Tim Cook at the opening of Shanghai's new Apple retail store in Shanghai on March 21, 2024.AFP/Getty Images
  • Apple just launched a $110 billion stock buyback program, the biggest in history.

  • It was announced in Apple's fiscal second-quarter earnings report, and helped catapult the stock higher.

  • Apple's new stock buyback program is more than the value of Boeing, Airbnb, and Chipotle.


Apple just launched a $110 billion stock buyback, the biggest in stock market history.

The announcement came alongside a strong fiscal second-quarter earnings report for Apple, which saw revenue and earnings per share beat estimates, while Greater China sales also exceeded expectations. Shares of Apple surged 7% on Friday.

Apple also raised its dividend 4% to $0.25 per share, reiterating its commitment to sending a big chunk of its profits back to shareholders.

"The historical $110 billion buyback announced speaks to the massive cash flow generation coming out of Apple with no signs of slowing down as the capital allocation strategy remains music to the ears of investors in this tech stalwart," Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said in a note on Friday.

Apple's stock buyback represents about 4% of the company's total value, highlighting just how big of an impact this buyback can have on its stock price as it continues to retire a solid chunk of its total shares outstanding. Over time, as the supply of shares decreases, prices tend to increase, assuming the underlying business is in good health and still growing.

Apple's total shares outstanding peaked at just over 26 billion in 2013. Since then, the company's stock buyback programs have reduced its total share count to 15.44 billion, and at current prices, this stock buyback program would retire an additional 600 million shares.

To put in perspective just how big Apple's stock buyback program is, consider these companies that have a total market value of less than $110 billion.

5. Waste Management

Waste Management
Apprentice garbage man Corey Lever collects trash outside a school in Oakland, Calif.AP/Eric Risberg

Ticker: WM
Market Value: $83.1 billion

4. Chipotle

Chipotle worker at assembly line
Chipotle worker at assembly lineGregory Rec/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images

Ticker: CMG
Market Value: $86.3 billion

3. Dell Technologies

Dell Technologies building in Round Rock, Texas
Dell has offices in locations including Round Rock, Texas.Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Ticker: DELL
Market Value: $88.1 billion

2. Airbnb

Airbnb stock image from Getty Images
AirbnbSOPA Images/Getty Images

Ticker: ABNB
Market Value: $100.6 billion

1. Boeing

Asia-aerospace-Singapore-aviation,ADVANCER by Martin Abbugao A Boeing 787 dreamliner is seen on the tarmac at the Singapore Airshow in Singapore on February 12, 2012
A Boeing 787 Dreamliner.ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images

Ticker: BA
Market Value: $109.8 billion

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