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The week's question
In March 2025, in the thread "Re: OT, out", Umm asked the members: "Do you think it is because America is made up of magical soil that makes businesses based in America magically profitable?" This week it is put to everyone again. The button below opens the small thread re-asking it - read what others have said so far, then give your own answer as an ordinary reply.
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Stocks A to Z / Stocks B / Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)
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Author: mungofitch ✹✺🐝 SILVER
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Number: of 22353 
Subject: Re: New High Price for Repurchases?
Date: 08/06/23 1:17 PM
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Having lived through many periods when WEB did not buy back stock and probably should have, I don't think that he would repurchase even one share at less than a 10% discount to his own calculation of IV...

There seem to be quite a few factors going into when the buybacks happen. It's not just the prevailing price or price/IV.
They seem to go on at relatively high valuations sometimes, and seem to stop at relatively low valuations at other times.
I think other factors are other [potential] short term uses for the money, and whether there is a material bit of undisclosed news (or just statements) imminent.
Not necessarily for regulatory reasons, but I suspect that things stop for a while before statements are out if the statements have any sort of surprise.

Speaking of buybacks, the overall cumulative effect of the buybacks is starting to show a bit.
In terms of economic interest, 12.02% of shares have been retired since the temporary peak share count five years ago. Due to conversions, the A-share count is down by 22.93% and the B-share count is down by 2.95%.
The count is down 12.34% from the all time peak which I think was end 2011.

I certainly don't read anything into it when buybacks stop.
But the highest valuation level at which they have taken place is worth noting.

Jim
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This community has written 21,861 posts about Berkshire Hathaway. The article-length ones it recommended most:
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