Goldman Sees Cash-Flush S&P 500 Firms Boosting Buybacks

(Bloomberg) -- Flush with cash and with share prices at record highs, S&P 500 companies are about to spend big, with shareholders as the main beneficiaries, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Strategists led by Ryan Hammond expect $872 billion in gross buybacks in 2022 -- an 8% increase from this year -- while dividends are also set for a boost, albeit at a more moderate pace. With S&P 500 earnings seen 25% above pre-pandemic levels at the end of 2021, companies have additional dry powder. 

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