Record Buybacks in Europe: Banks and Energy Drive April Surge
Press Hub UCapital
Share:
In April 2025, European companies recorded a historic high in share buybacks, with STOXX 600 firms repurchasing €17 billion worth of shares—the highest monthly total ever, according to a Barclays report. These buybacks likely helped stabilize markets following the post-"Liberation Day" correction linked to Trump’s return to the spotlight.
Financials and energy companies led the activity, accounting for €13.5 billion and €11 billion in repurchases, respectively, over the past three months. April also saw new buyback announcements totaling €27 billion, in line with seasonal trends. Financials again topped the list, with €31 billion in announced buybacks this year, followed by industrials (€19 billion) and consumer goods (€15 billion), both well above historical averages.
Buyback-related trading volumes remained elevated, representing 1.6% of total equity market activity. Specifically, buybacks accounted for 3.2% of energy sector volume and 2.3% of financials.
Barclays notes that nearly 80% of buyback programs scheduled to conclude in 2025 are still pending, suggesting further upside in the coming months. Companies with the highest proportion of outstanding buybacks include Melrose Industries, Balfour Beatty, Genmab, and Standard Chartered.
So far in 2025, European firms have announced €120 billion in new buybacks—about 1.2% of the total STOXX 600 market capitalization. With bond yields climbing and concerns over U.S. debt sustainability resurfacing, Barclays sees corporate buybacks as a key buffer to offset weakening demand from institutional investors.
Financials and energy companies led the activity, accounting for €13.5 billion and €11 billion in repurchases, respectively, over the past three months. April also saw new buyback announcements totaling €27 billion, in line with seasonal trends. Financials again topped the list, with €31 billion in announced buybacks this year, followed by industrials (€19 billion) and consumer goods (€15 billion), both well above historical averages.
Buyback-related trading volumes remained elevated, representing 1.6% of total equity market activity. Specifically, buybacks accounted for 3.2% of energy sector volume and 2.3% of financials.
Barclays notes that nearly 80% of buyback programs scheduled to conclude in 2025 are still pending, suggesting further upside in the coming months. Companies with the highest proportion of outstanding buybacks include Melrose Industries, Balfour Beatty, Genmab, and Standard Chartered.
So far in 2025, European firms have announced €120 billion in new buybacks—about 1.2% of the total STOXX 600 market capitalization. With bond yields climbing and concerns over U.S. debt sustainability resurfacing, Barclays sees corporate buybacks as a key buffer to offset weakening demand from institutional investors.