Record Spending on Dividends and Buybacks
New financial reports show that in 2025, the six largest U.S. banks spent more than $140 billion on dividends and stock buybacks — a new record that surpasses previous levels seen in 2019. This reflects growing strength in capital returns from Wall Street financial institutions.
JPMorgan Leads the Buyback Surge
JPMorgan Chase took the lead with over $30 billion in stock repurchases during 2025, setting a new record for a Wall Street bank. This amount was more than triple its buyback level from two years prior, signaling strong confidence in its market position.
Trend Expected to Continue
The broader banking sector anticipates this trend to continue into the current year. Goldman Sachs’ CEO stated on Thursday’s earnings call that the firm would remain flexible in its approach to share repurchases in response to market conditions and shareholder expectations.
Boosting Investor Confidence
These substantial capital returns have strengthened investor confidence and highlight improving profitability and capital positions across the banking sector. Analysts expect such shareholder-friendly policies to remain a key theme in the coming years.
- Total spending exceeded $140 billion
- JPMorgan’s buybacks reached $30 billion
- Goldman pledges buyback flexibility
- Trend expected to persist in 2025