Cover for stock handouts Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, one of the largest investment companies in the world, in 2014 warned U.S. companies to slow down on buybacks and dividends. “We certainly believe that returning cash to shareholders should be part of a balanced capital strategy; however, when done for the wrong reasons and at the expense of capital investment, it can jeopardize a company’s ability to generate sustainable long-term returns,” he wrote in a letter. Recent Activity Indicates Companies Leaning to the Pro Side The rapidly improving economy and stocks at record highs may be fueling a flurry of stock buyback activity in 2021.