Who announced the latest update on News Corporation’s buy-back program, what does it entail, when was it updated, and where can you find the official details? Here’s an authoritative analysis of the recent 8-K report detailing News Corporation’s ongoing stock repurchase initiative as of May 5, 2025.
News Corporation (ASX code: NWS) recently updated its notification regarding its share buy-back program via an official filing available at the SEC website: Source Document. This update, posted on May 5, 2025, revises the company’s buy-back activities originally notified on September 22, 2021.
The program involves a substantial repurchase plan targeting up to USD 1 billion aggregate of Class A and Class B common stocks listed on Nasdaq. The repurchase is “from time to time, in the open market or otherwise,” aimed primarily at enhancing shareholder value. It does not involve ASX-listed CDIs.
Quantitatively, as of May 2, 2025, News Corporation has bought back approximately USD 668.6 million worth of shares. This includes a total of about 21.72 million shares acquired at a total consideration of approximately USD 443.1 million in the recent buy-back execution prior to the update. Share prices paid during the buy-back have ranged from a low of USD 14.88 (last paid on September 29, 2022) to a high of USD 30.69 (last paid on February 19, 2025).
The total number of Class A common shares currently outstanding is approximately 373.78 million, and this program’s scale signifies a meaningful reduction in outstanding shares, which supports share price appreciation and earnings per share (EPS) growth.
Putting the buy-back impact into perspective, News Corporation posted full fiscal year 2024 total revenues of USD 10.085 billion and net income of USD 266 million. Their shareholder equity stood at around USD 8.12 billion. This buy-back, representing up to USD 1 billion in shares, effectively returns substantial capital to shareholders and reflects a confident capital allocation strategy amidst economic uncertainty and market volatility.
Historically, from prior earnings call transcripts, News Corporation’s management has emphasized value enhancement and disciplined capital management. The current buy-back update aligns with these themes, confirming continued commitment to shareholder returns even amid evolving market conditions.
In summary, this update on News Corporation’s share buy-back program underscores a significant capital return initiative, leveraging market conditions to optimize shareholder value. Investors and market watchers should track ongoing buy-back activity, as it directly influences share liquidity and capital structure.
Tags: News Corporation Buyback 2025, Share Repurchase Program, Capital Allocation Strategy, Nasdaq Class A Stock, Shareholder Value Enhancement