Comcast, Johnson & Johnson announce share buybacks

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Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) doubled its share buyback authorization to $20 billion, after increasing it to $10 billion in January, while Johnson and Johnson announced a stock repurchase of up to $5 billion.

Comcast, whose shares were up 1% before the bell, said it had bought back about $9 billion worth of stock so far this year.

The climate, healthcare and tax bill passed by the U.S. has likely made companies hasten share repurchases, as it imposes a new excise tax on stock buybacks and a minimum 15% tax on corporations, effective next year.