While both dividends and buybacks move cash from firms to shareholders, repurchases tend to attract the most criticism because they are more easily abused to enrich executives.
CNBC's Becky Quick asks about Berkshire's first-ever stock buyback, a move Mr. Buffett has long deplored.
Avoiding horse-trading over the warrant buyback is another move that may help soothe political and popular indignation.
Matsushita's stock buyback was coupled with moves to improve the effectiveness of its board room and more closely align management's interests with shareholders.
Others, including Japan Tobacco and the semiconductor maker Rohm, have announced share buybacks in recent months — moves that help elevate the value of the companies' remaining shares in the market.
The house calls come soon after Cablevision said it was considering a range of moves -- from buybacks to spinoffs -- to try to lift its stock.
Furthermore, companies may decide that some mergers may not be worth the cost, compared with simpler moves like stock buybacks.
Their abundant cash flows should enable them to make moves like share buybacks, increased dividend payouts, mergers and acquisitions, which, he said, should serve as a catalyst to raise prices.
But while these are one-time changes aimed at capitalizing on existing rates, any moves to increase share buybacks could continue in the long run.
However, the thing to keep in mind is that share buybacks and layoffs may be short-term moves that only boost the stock price in the near future.
