As an investor, you're likely familiar with the appeal of dividend stocks, especially when the market gets shaky. Dividends, those regular payouts from a company's profits, offer a tangible return and a sense of stability, particularly when the value declines and dividends grow. But what if I told you there's a "twin" to dividends that's equally, if not more, impactful for your portfolio, particularly in uncertain times? I'm talking about share buybacks, and a recent Barron's article, "Walmart, Aflac and 8 Other Dividend Aristocrats That Also Wear Buyback Crowns," highlighted just how crucial they can be. The Power of Repurchases: More Than Just Returning Cash For years, investors have flocked to "dividend aristocrats" – companies with a long history of consistently increasing their dividends – for their defensive qualities. Think of ETFs like the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF or the ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF....
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