Source: SEC.gov Appendix 3C 8-K Filing
News Corporation (ASX: NWS), one of the world’s leading media and information services companies, has undertaken a significant Class A Common Stock buyback initiative, as disclosed to the ASX in their latest regulatory filing dated April 16, 2025. This authoritative blog post provides a deep dive into the financial implications, strategic motivations, and technical details of the buyback, leveraging expert analysis, advanced quantitative statistics, and up-to-date market context. Keywords: News Corporation, Class A Common Stock, buyback, shareholder value, SEC filing, ASX Notification.
Company Name: News Corporation
Ticker Symbols: ASX: NWS, Nasdaq: NWSA, NWS
Buyback Authorization: Up to an aggregate of US$1 billion in Nasdaq-listed Class A and Class B common stock
Buyback Type: “Other buy-back” program — does not include ASX-listed CDIs
Buyback Broker: Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
Number of Class A Securities Outstanding: 373,978,194 shares
Total Value of Shares Purchased so far: US$661,514,465.77
Total Shares Repurchased to Most Recent Date (April 15, 2025): 21,564,513 shares
Highest Price Paid (in this program): US$30.69 (on 19/02/2025)
Lowest Price Paid (in this program): US$14.88 (on 29/09/2022)
Remaining Buyback Authorization: US$338,485,534.23
(Data sourced directly from News Corporation’s 8-K SEC filing, April 16, 2025: SEC.gov Appendix 3C 8-K Filing)
Quoting directly from the company’s filing: “The reason for the buy-back is to enhance shareholder value.” Historically, share repurchases signal management’s confidence in the intrinsic value of the company and can indicate a belief that shares are undervalued in the current market environment (Investopedia).
Share buybacks, especially large-scale authorizations such as this, have a quantitatively measurable impact on key metrics: - Earnings Per Share (EPS): By reducing the share count, EPS can increase even if net earnings remain constant. - Return on Equity (ROE): Lower equity base may result in increased ROE, attracting institutional investors. - Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E): A reduced float can lead to a higher stock price as free-float scarcity increases.
Buyback Type: The “Other buy-back” category is relevant to entities established outside Australia and is subject to U.S. securities law oversight. The US dollar-denominated program targets only U.S.-listed shares, not ASX CHESS Depository Interests (CDIs).
No Minimum Purchase Requirement: The company does not intend a minimum buyback volume, granting flexibility. The stated maximum is precise and restricted to US$1 billion.
Broker: By engaging Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, a global leader in securities brokerage and investment banking, News Corporation ensures executional excellence and regulatory compliance (Morgan Stanley, 2025).
Based on the statistical trend — with over 66% of the buyback allocation already utilized — News Corporation is executing this program at an average pace that reflects both market opportunities and prudent capital management: - Average Price Paid per Repurchased Share: - Total Value / Number of Shares ≈ US$30.68 (US$661.5M/21.56M shares) - Authorized Remaining Capacity: ~33.8% of the program remains.
This aggressive buyback stance aligns with current trends among S&P 500 constituents, where 2024-2025 saw over $900 billion in authorized repurchase programs (FactSet Buyback Quarterly, 2025). According to CNBC, “Share buybacks are on track for a record pace in 2025 as companies seek to offset equity dilution and support stock prices” (CNBC Capital Markets Desk, April 2025).
News Corporation’s ongoing buyback program demonstrates a strong commitment to shareholder value enhancement through disciplined capital deployment. With US$661.5 million in shares already purchased and US$338.5 million still authorized, investors can anticipate continued technical support in the stock’s trading dynamics over the next fiscal periods. The transparency, scale, and professional execution of this buyback stand as a hallmark of effective corporate governance and capital management in the evolving global media sector.
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Source Citation: - News Corporation 8-K, Appendix 3C, SEC.gov, April 16, 2025
Tags: News Corporation, Share Buyback, SEC Filing, Capital Management, Investor Relations