Japan-listed companies' share buybacks reached a record 22.32 trillion yen in fiscal 2025, extending gains for a fifth straight year as companies face growing pressure to improve capital efficiency, Nikkei reported Friday.
The total value of announced repurchase programs rose 18% from a year earlier, following an 85% jump in fiscal 2024, according to the report.
Recruit Holdings (TYO:6098) launched a buyback of as much as 350 billion yen in March, while Toyota Motor (TYO:7203) repurchased shares tied to the planned privatization of Toyota Industries (TYO:6201), the report said.
The buyback surge follows a 2023 push by the Tokyo Stock Exchange for listed companies to improve shareholder returns and capital efficiency, according to the report.
The number of companies launching buybacks, however, fell 5% to 1,099 in fiscal 2025, amid concerns over higher repurchase costs and uncertainty tied to U.S. tariffs, the report said.
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