Use Case  ·  For the CFO

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Stop buying back what you're giving away.

Most public companies spend a significant portion of their buyback budget just to offset the dilution their equity compensation programs create. Carver Edison eliminates the dilution at the source - so every dollar of buyback creates real EPS accretion instead of running in place.

Maximize Your Buyback IV  /  IV

The Problem

Your buyback program and your equity comp program are working against each other. One issues shares. The other buys them back. The net result: billions spent with no accretion to show for it.

01.

Equity comp dilutes. Buybacks try to offset.

Every ESPP and equity grant cycle, traditional programs issue new shares into the float. These shares dilute existing holders and expand the denominator in EPS. The buyback exists, in large part, to absorb that issuance and keep the share count from growing.

02.

Up to 70% of buyback capital is neutralized

Industry data suggests that roughly 70% of buyback spending at major public companies offsets dilution from equity compensation rather than reducing the actual share count. You're spending capital to stand still.

03.

The real cost is the accretion you're not getting

When buyback capital isn't neutralized by comp plan dilution, it actually shrinks the share count - which lifts EPS, signals confidence to the market, and returns value to shareholders. Right now, most of yours is doing none of that.

The Mechanism

Eliminate the dilution. Let the buyback do real work.

Traditional equity comp programs create a treadmill: issue shares, dilute shareholders, buy back shares to offset. Carver Edison breaks the cycle by sourcing shares from the open market rather than issuing new ones. Your comp plan delivers the same benefit - without adding anything back to the float for your buyback to absorb.

Traditional ESPP + Buyback

Issue shares for comp. Buy shares to offset. Net effect: zero.

Shares issued per cycleNew
Float impactGrows
Buyback functionOffsetting dilution
Net EPS accretionNone
Capital efficiencyLow

Cashless Participation® + Buyback

Issue no new shares. Every buyback dollar shrinks the float.

Shares issued per cycleNone
Float impactUnchanged
Buyback functionReal accretion
Net EPS accretionFull
Capital efficiencyMaximum
Same comp. Same grants. Same buyback budget. Every dollar of it doing actual work.

The Outcome

The same buyback budget. Real results.

Illustrative example

$267.96M of buyback capital recaptured over 3 years.

For a company spending $100M annually on buybacks to offset equity plan dilution.

Today

Annual buyback offsetting comp dilution $100M
Annual buyback truly accretive
3-year buyback capital freed
Buyback impact on share count Partial

With Carver Edison

Annual buyback offsetting comp dilution $15M
Annual buyback truly accretive $85M
3-year buyback capital freed $267.96M
Buyback impact on share count Full

Methodology: Industry data shows roughly 70% of large-cap buyback capital is consumed offsetting equity plan dilution. Eliminating 85% of plan dilution at the source frees those buyback dollars for genuine share retirement, M&A, or distributions. 3-year capital freed = ($85M + $89.25M + $93.71M) = $267.96M.

Related Outcomes

The buyback efficiency is a result. These are the drivers.

See how much of your buyback is offsetting comp dilution.

We'll model the dilution your equity programs are creating and show you exactly what your buyback could accomplish if it wasn't running in place.