Nvidia Launches Record $150 Billion Stock Buyback Amid AI Boom

The company’s decision brings the total remaining authorization for the program to $235 billion, surpassing the previous record of $110 billion set by Apple in 2024. CEO Jensen Huang attributed the move to the company's robust cash generation, stating that the capital return reflects confidence in the ongoing shift toward accelerated computing and AI-driven platforms. Following the announcement, Nvidia shares rose approximately 3%.

While the market reacted positively, the buyback has renewed debate over corporate resource allocation. Critics argue that such massive repurchases function as stock price manipulation, effectively draining capital that could otherwise support worker wages or research initiatives. David Kass, executive director of Americans for Tax Fairness, contends that these buybacks exacerbate economic inequality, noting that the practice has surged in recent years following corporate tax cuts implemented during the Trump administration.

Nvidia currently stands as the world's most valuable public company, boasting a market capitalization of roughly $5 trillion. Its dominance remains tied to the massive infrastructure demands of the AI sector, a role that has increasingly placed the firm at the center of national scrutiny and grassroots protests regarding the environmental and social impacts of large-scale data centers.