Originally Posted by
ReluctantEskimo
Dividends don't manipulate the share price.
If you want to shovel money to the shareholders, at least it's on the level. Either case, slashing and burning your route structure while rewarding wall street is a Gordon Gekko move.
How is that manipulation? They are literally returning money back to ALL investors. Taking cash off the books to do buybacks actually lowers the value of the company because it's value is decreasing. Sometimes companies don't have any profitable ventures to take on and/or no current room for growth, so they return the money to investors. Not manipulation, usually just responsible management. Now whether GK and BJ have led this company responsibly in other areas, that is an entirely different discussion in which I'm sure we'd agree.