Stock Buybacks...

These are just a few of the companies that have announced stock buyback programs...

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) authorized for up to $5 billion over the next two to three years and its market capitalization is roughly $25 billion.

CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE: CVS) announced a plan of up to $4 billion on top of a prior plan, and its market cap is close to $48 billion.

Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ: CELG) announced a buyback of up to $2 billion against a market cap of close to $27 billion.

Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ: INTU) announced a share buyback of up to $2 billion against a market cap of almost $13 billion at the time.

Discovery Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: DISCA) approved a new $1 billion share buyback plan early in the month and its market cap was $15 billion.

Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS) said early in August that a plan of up to $1 billion in shares and its market capitalization was a mere $4.4 billion.

Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) announced a buyback in August of up to $1 billion on top of a prior buyback plan; its market cap is $24 billion.

AmerisourceBergen Corporation (NYSE: ABC) completed a prior $500 million plan and authorized a new plan of up to $750 million against a $9.9 billion market cap.

Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. (NYSE: ANR) added $600 million to a prior buyback plan against a market cap of about $7 billion.

Avnet Inc. (NYSE: AVT) announced a buyback plan of up to $500 million versus a market cap of $4.1 billion.

Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) approved a buyback plan of up to $500 million against a market cap of $6.6 billion.

St. Jude Medical Inc. (NYSE: STJ) announced in early August that it would repurchase up to $500 million versus a market cap of $13.8 billion.

Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE: IPG) expanded its buyback plan with up to $450 million more against a market cap of about $4.15 billion.

Forest Laboratories Inc. (NYSE: FRX) agreed to repurchase another $350 million of common stock from Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), just over 3% of the company’s value at the time versus a $9.55 billion market cap.

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLF): up to 4 million shares, close to $300 million at the time, versus a market cap of nearly $11 billion.

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. (NASDAQ: CTSH): up to $300 million on top of a prior plan versus a $19 billion market cap.

KBR, Inc. (NYSE: KBR) close to $300 million (10 million shares) versus a market cap of about $4.5 billion.

Newell Rubbermaid Inc. (NYSE: NWL): up to $300 million and the market cap was about $3.8 billion.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (NYSE: VRX): up to $300 on top of a prior plan versus a market cap of $13+ billion.

Akamai Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM): up to $250 million more in an existing buyback program (new total was up to $400 million) against a market cap of $4.1 billion.

AOL Inc. (NYSE: AOL): up to $250 million versus a market cap of almost $1.3 billion.

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: DLB): up to an additional $250 million versus a market cap of about $3.6 billion.

Urban Outfitters, Inc. (NASDAQ: URBN) was close to $250 million more (10 million shares) in addition to a prior plan versus a market cap of $4.1 billion.