Stock buybacks, or share repurchase programs, are commonly executed by companies to boost shareholder value.  A stock buyback occurs when a company purchases outstanding shares of its stock. In its simplest form, buybacks represent companies essentially re-investing in themselves. In 2024, several companies – Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT), lululemon (NASDAQ: LULU), and NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP) – have recently unveiled repurchase programs. Let's take a closer look at each. Caterpillar Construction heavyweight Caterpillar recently unveiled a sizable $20 billion buyback, representing nearly 13% of shares outstanding. Shares have modestly lagged in 2024, gaining 12% compared ...