3 Massive Buybacks That Map the Market’s Mood in 2026

Group 1: Western Digital - Western Digital announced a $4 billion share buyback program, adding to its previous buyback capacity of $484 million, totaling approximately $4.484 billion, which is about 4.1% of its $96 billion market capitalization [2][3] - The company's stock delivered a total return of 284% in 2025, making it the best-performing stock in the S&P 500 Index, and it has continued to rise by over 60% in 2026 [2] - Western Digital's shares outstanding fell by around 2% in 2025, and the new buyback program is twice as large as its previous $2 billion authorization, indicating confidence in continued share reduction [3] Group 2: PepsiCo - PepsiCo is implementing a new $10 billion share repurchase program to support its business changes and outlook, reflecting strong performance with a nearly 19% increase in 2026 [5][6] - The consumer staples sector has performed well early in 2026, with the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund delivering a total return of 13% [6] Group 3: ServiceNow - ServiceNow plans to utilize a large accelerated repurchase plan to take advantage of its stock price weakness, despite facing significant declines in recent months [5] - The company maintains strong business fundamentals, signaling confidence through its buyback announcement [1]