CONSHOHOCKEN, PA — Cencora, Inc. (NYSE: COR), in a strategic move aimed at boosting shareholder value, announced on Thursday, February 07, 2024, its intent to buy back approximately $50 million worth of its own common stock from Walgreens Boots Alliance Holdings LLC.
The decision comes in tandem with Walgreens Boots Alliance’s sale of Cencora shares under Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This rule allows for the public resale of restricted and control securities if a number of conditions are met, including holding them for a minimum period.
Cencora’s stipulation is to repurchase the shares at the same price as in the Rule 144 sale. The repurchased shares will then be held in the company’s treasury. This transaction forms part of Cencora’s broader share repurchase program, which is a common way for companies to return capital to shareholders and potentially offset dilution from employee equity plans.
To put it simply, a share repurchase, or buyback, occurs when a company buys its own outstanding shares to reduce the number of shares available on the open market. Companies buy back shares for several reasons – to increase the value of remaining shares by reducing supply, to prevent other shareholders from taking a controlling stake, or simply because they believe their shares are undervalued.
For Cencora, repurchasing these shares from Walgreens Boots Alliance can be seen as a vote of confidence in its own future. It suggests that Cencora believes its shares are worth investing in, even as Walgreens Boots Alliance has chosen to sell.
It’s also worth noting that the repurchased shares will be held in treasury. Treasury shares are essentially company-owned shares that don’t pay dividends, have no voting rights, and aren’t included in shares outstanding calculations for earnings per share (EPS). However, they can be reissued in the future, giving Cencora flexibility in managing its capital structure.
While the move may seem counterintuitive – after all, why would a company buy its own shares instead of investing in growth or paying out dividends? – it’s actually a common strategy. By reducing the number of shares outstanding on the market, the company can increase earnings per share and return excess cash to shareholders.
But it’s not without risks. If the company’s stock price doesn’t increase after the repurchase, or if the company faces financial difficulties, the buyback could be seen in hindsight as a poor use of capital.
In this case, however, Cencora appears confident in its decision. The company has not provided specific reasons for the buyback, but the move suggests that Cencora believes its shares are undervalued or that it has excess cash that it wants to return to shareholders.
This is a significant development for existing shareholders, as it indicates that Cencora is actively working to enhance shareholder value. It also provides a clear signal to potential investors about the company’s confidence in its own stock, which could encourage further investment.
As with any strategic move, only time will tell if Cencora’s share repurchase will prove beneficial in the long term. For now, it serves as an intriguing development in the company’s ongoing efforts to maximize shareholder value.
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