Goldman sees gains from US stock buybacks

New York

INVESTORS will rake in more than US$1 trillion in 2015 as US companies increase stock buybacks and boost dividends, Goldman Sachs Group Inc said, with benefits coming soon as many S&P 500 companies exit a blackout period for repurchases next week.

The firm forecasts an 18 per cent jump in buybacks and a 7 per cent climb in dividends for the year. "Corporate activity in early 2015 supports our view that the S&P 500 will return more than US$1 trillion of cash to investors this year," said David Kostin, chief US equity strategist at Goldman in New York said in an April 24 note to clients.