BCE makes a big buyback

Article Excerpt

BCE INC. $26.07 (Toronto symbol BCE; Shares outstanding: 803.1 million; Market cap: $20.9 billion; SI Rating: Above Average) has agreed to buy back and cancel 10.3 million of its common shares. The company is authorized to buy back up to 40 million (or 5%) of its outstanding shares. This move will increase the value of the remaining shares. BCE plans to finish the buyback by the end of May. Based on today’s share price, it will cost the company roughly $267 million. BCE can easily afford this; it earned $1.8 billion, or $2.25 a share, in 2008. It also holds cash of $3.1 billion, or $3.81 a share. BCE is a buy. buy…