⚠ Buybacks Halved From the PeakLow threat

Procter & Gamble (PG) — threat to the moat

P&G buys back less than half as much stock as it did in fiscal 2021, because the dividend now takes most of the cash.

P&G's share buybacks have fallen by more than half. It bought $11,009 million of its own stock in fiscal 20211, $10,003 million in fiscal 20222, and $5,028 million in fiscal 20263, about 45.7% of the peak4. For fiscal 2027 it guides to about $5 billion5.

Share repurchases ($M)11,009FY202110,003FY20225,006FY20246,500FY20255,028FY2026P&G Forms 10-K FY2021, FY2022, FY2026; treasury stock purchases
Down 54% from the peak.

The dividend has taken the space. Dividends paid rose from $9,312 million in fiscal 2024 to $10,232 million in fiscal 202667 while buybacks fell. Diluted shares still declined, to 2,422.5 million from 2,454.4 million8, but more slowly than when buybacks were twice as large.

This is a consequence of flat earnings, not a policy failure. With free cash flow of about $16 billion9, a $10 billion dividend leaves room for about $5 billion of buybacks and little else.

The buybacks continue at today's prices. In May and June 2026 P&G bought 5,933,639 shares at an average of $147.4610, about the level of the share price in September. Over ten years the company has returned $155 billion to shareholders11, most recently with the dividend taking the larger share.

The threat is to per-share growth. If buybacks stay near $5 billion while net earnings stay near $16 billion12, P&G will reduce its share count by roughly 1% a year, and that will be most of its per-share growth.

References
  1. ReportedIt bought $11,009 million of its own stock in fiscal 2021, $10,003 million in fiscal 2022, and $5,028 million in fiscal 2026, about 45.7% of the peak.
    Procter & Gamble Form 10-K for fiscal 2021 - treasury stock purchases of $11,009 million and top-ten customer share. — FY2021 · publ. August 2021 · source ↗
  2. ReportedIt bought $11,009 million of its own stock in fiscal 2021, $10,003 million in fiscal 2022, and $5,028 million in fiscal 2026, about 45.7% of the peak.
    Procter & Gamble Form 10-K for fiscal 2022 - segment shares of sales and earnings, Walmart share 2020-2022, top-ten customers and share repurchases. — FY2022 · publ. August 2022 · source ↗
  3. ReportedIt bought $11,009 million of its own stock in fiscal 2021, $10,003 million in fiscal 2022, and $5,028 million in fiscal 2026, about 45.7% of the peak.
    Procter & Gamble fourth-quarter and fiscal 2026 results release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1, with fiscal 2027 guidance - quarterly and fiscal-year headline results and cash flow. — Q4 FY2026 · publ. 29 July 2026 · source ↗
  4. Moat Explorer calcIt bought $11,009 million of its own stock in fiscal 2021, $10,003 million in fiscal 2022, and $5,028 million in fiscal 2026, about 45.7% of the peak.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Procter & Gamble's reported figures ($ millions unless stated; fiscal years end 30 June). Net debt: FY2026 11,296 + 22,842 - 9,942 = 24,196; 24,196 / 54,311 = 0.45 times equity; 24,196 / 19,556 = 1.24 years of operating cash flow; debt due within one year 11,296 / (11,296 + 22,842) = 33% of debt; FY2025 9,513 + 24,995 - 9,556 = 24,952; FY2024 7,191 + 25,269 - 9,482 = 22,978. Capital spending 4,409 / 87,032 = 5.1% of net sales. Adjusted free cash flow over dividends 15,835 / 10,232 = 1.55 times. Dividends paid over net earnings attributable: 10,232 / 16,046 = 63.8% (FY2026); 9,872 / 15,974 = 61.8% (FY2025); 9,312 / 14,879 = 62.6% (FY2024). Buybacks 5,028 / 11,009 = 45.7% of the FY2021 peak. Peer market values on 25 September 2026 ($bn): 132.99 + 68.60 + 34.19 + 34.18 + 32.74 + 22.86 + 10.13 = 335.69, against P&G 339.64; P&G / Clorox 339.64 / 10.13 = 33.5 times. P/E: 339.64 / 16.046 = 21.2 (now); 394.82 / 14.879 = 26.5 (December 2024 over FY2024). Free cash flow yield 15,835 / 339,640 = 4.7%. Goodwill plus Gillette brand 41,276 + 12,800 = 54,076; 54,076 / 126,521 = 42.7% of total assets. Segments (five reportable, excluding Corporate): FY2026 sales 16,023 + 6,918 + 12,456 + 30,314 + 20,401 = 86,112; net earnings 2,672 + 1,529 + 2,404 + 5,632 + 3,930 = 16,167; FY2025 net earnings 2,715 + 1,577 + 2,440 + 5,848 + 4,013 = 16,593; 16,167 / 16,593 - 1 = -2.6%. Segment net earnings changes FY2026: Beauty 2,672 / 2,715 - 1 = -1.6%; Grooming 1,529 / 1,577 - 1 = -3.0%; Health Care 2,404 / 2,440 - 1 = -1.5%; Fabric & Home Care 5,632 / 5,848 - 1 = -3.7%; Baby, Feminine & Family Care 3,930 / 4,013 - 1 = -2.1%. Fabric & Home Care share of segment net earnings 5,632 / 16,167 = 34.8%. Pre-tax margins FY2026: Beauty 3,473 / 16,023 = 21.7%; Grooming 1,966 / 6,918 = 28.4%; Health Care 3,163 / 12,456 = 25.4%; Fabric & Home Care 7,290 / 30,314 = 24.0%; Baby, Feminine & Family Care 5,145 / 20,401 = 25.2%. Net margins FY2023: Beauty 3,178 / 15,008 = 21.2%; Health Care 2,125 / 11,226 = 18.9%; Fabric & Home Care 4,828 / 28,371 = 17.0%; Baby, Feminine & Family Care 3,545 / 20,217 = 17.5%. Three-year growth FY2023-FY2026: Health Care sales 12,456 / 11,226 - 1 = 11.0%; Health Care net earnings 2,404 / 2,125 - 1 = 13.1%; Grooming sales 6,918 / 6,419 - 1 = 7.8%; Baby, Feminine & Family Care sales 20,401 / 20,217 - 1 = 0.9%. Segment capital spending over sales FY2026: Grooming 540 / 6,918 = 7.8%; Baby, Feminine & Family Care 1,520 / 20,401 = 7.5%; Health Care 592 / 12,456 = 4.8%; Fabric & Home Care 1,250 / 30,314 = 4.1%; Beauty 415 / 16,023 = 2.6%. Geography FY2026 ($bn): international 45.3 / 87.0 = 52.1%; United States 41.7 / 87.0 = 47.9%. Walmart about 16% x 87,032 = 13,925, about $13.9 billion. Top ten customers less Walmart (rounded percentages): FY2017 35 - 16 = 19; FY2020 38 - 15 = 23; FY2023 40 - 15 = 25; FY2026 43 - 16 = 27. Dividend per share 4.2589 / 4.0763 - 1 = 4.5% (FY2026); 4.0763 / 3.8286 - 1 = 6.5% (FY2025). Market exit charges after tax 1,200 + 131 = 1,331. P&G / Unilever market value 339.64 / 132.99 = 2.6 times. Restructuring charges FY2024-FY2026 659 + 1,114 + 1,230 = 3,003. Gillette write-downs 8.3 + 1.3 = 9.6 billion. Operating margin 19,748 / 87,032 = 22.7% (FY2026); 20,451 / 84,284 = 24.3% (FY2025) - balance sheet, cash returns and valuation. — FY2015-FY2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Procter & Gamble's Forms 10-K, results releases, earnings slides and market data; operands shown in the source line.
  5. ReportedFor fiscal 2027 it guides to about $5 billion.
    Procter & Gamble fourth-quarter and fiscal 2026 results release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1, with fiscal 2027 guidance - fiscal 2027 guidance. — Q4 FY2026 · publ. 29 July 2026 · source ↗
  6. ReportedDividends paid rose from $9,312 million in fiscal 2024 to $10,232 million in fiscal 2026 while buybacks fell.
    Procter & Gamble Form 10-K for fiscal 2026 (year ended 30 June 2026) - consolidated statements of earnings, cash flows and financial position, debt and dividends. — FY2026 · publ. 4 August 2026 · source ↗
  7. ReportedDividends paid rose from $9,312 million in fiscal 2024 to $10,232 million in fiscal 2026 while buybacks fell.
    Procter & Gamble fourth-quarter and fiscal 2026 results release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1, with fiscal 2027 guidance - quarterly and fiscal-year headline results and cash flow. — Q4 FY2026 · publ. 29 July 2026 · source ↗
  8. ReportedDiluted shares still declined, to 2,422.5 million from 2,454.4 million, but more slowly than when buybacks were twice as large.
    Procter & Gamble fourth-quarter and fiscal 2026 results release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1, with fiscal 2027 guidance - quarterly and fiscal-year headline results and cash flow. — Q4 FY2026 · publ. 29 July 2026 · source ↗
  9. ReportedWith free cash flow of about $16 billion, a $10 billion dividend leaves room for about $5 billion of buybacks and little else.
    Procter & Gamble Form 10-K for fiscal 2026 (year ended 30 June 2026) - consolidated statements of earnings, cash flows and financial position, debt and dividends. — FY2026 · publ. 4 August 2026 · source ↗
  10. ReportedIn May and June 2026 P&G bought 5,933,639 shares at an average of $147.46, about the level of the share price in September.
    Procter & Gamble Form 10-K for fiscal 2026 (year ended 30 June 2026) - Item 1A risk factors, Item 5 market information and performance graph, and critical accounting estimates (Gillette brand). — FY2026 · publ. 4 August 2026 · source ↗
  11. ReportedOver ten years the company has returned $155 billion to shareholders, most recently with the dividend taking the larger share.
    Procter & Gamble fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings slides, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - organic sales and core EPS history, share results and fiscal 2027 guidance assumptions. — Q4 FY2026 · publ. 29 July 2026 · source ↗
  12. ReportedIf buybacks stay near $5 billion while net earnings stay near $16 billion, P&G will reduce its share count by roughly 1% a year, and that will be most of its per-share growth.
    Procter & Gamble Form 10-K for fiscal 2026 (year ended 30 June 2026) - consolidated statements of earnings, cash flows and financial position, debt and dividends. — FY2026 · publ. 4 August 2026 · source ↗
Sources
Generated September 26, 2026