Hasbro recently announced a $500 million dollar buyback. Hasbro, Inc. provides children?s and family leisure time and entertainment products and services. The company designs, manufactures, and markets games and toys. It trades for 7x cash flow.

Patterson-UTI Energy recently announced a $250 million dollar buyback. Contract drilling services provider Patterson-UTI Energy recently reported second-quarter financial results that blew past analysts' expectations. The stock trades for 3x cash flow.

First Community Bancorp recently announced a $150 million dollar buyback over 12 months. First Community Bancorp recently announced its second-quarter profit surged 55 percent. The stock has a PE of 14.

The consumer-products giant recently introduced a new buyback plan worth up to $30 billion set to take place over the next three years. At the company's current market cap of $200 billion, the repurchase plan would account for 12% to 15% of its outstanding shares. The buyback rate of between $8 billion and $10 billion a year makes the new plan significantly more expensive than last year's repurchases of $5.6 billion. The maker of Pampers and Oil of Olay beauty products saw fourth-quarter profit surge 19%. The company beat forecasted earnings with revenue of $2.27 billion or 67 cents a share, for the quarter ended June 30, up from $1.9 billion or 55 cents a share in the previous year. Sales of its Gillette products continue to drive P&G's revenue with blade and razor sales increasing 18% to $1.4 billion. Total sales increased 8% to $19.27 billion. The Cincinnati-based company anticipates revenue of 88 to 90 cents a share in the first quarter 2008 and $3.44 to $3.47 for the full year- in line with analysts’ expectation of 91 cents for the quarter and $3.48 for the year. Current credit market troubles shouldn't be a problem for the company going forward, said CFO Clayton Daley. P&G will "more likely be a seller of businesses rather than a net buyer." Commodity-cost pressure still remains but the company hinted at raising prices if necessary. "This marks the sixth consecutive year in which P&G delivered top line growth at or above the company's targets," said CEO A.G. Lafley in a prepared statement. "These results were achieved at the same time the organization was integrating Gillette, which is progressing ahead of plan. Our strong cash generation results and our confidence in the business outlook have enabled us to substantially increase our share repurchase commitment for the next three years." Bear Stearns analysts reported a positive outlook on P&G saying "We think the glass was half full in 4Q07." Stearns says they saw encouraging signs such as "attractive valuation; margin expansion, despite cost inflation; and improvements in core brands such as Crest and Olay." In a recent report, Stearns reiterated their Outperform rating and slapped a $71 target price on the stock. "By the end of 2007, we see potential upside for PG to roughly $74, and downside to only $58," analysts said, "Given its favorable risk/reward profile, we believe PG should remain a core holding."

CBL & Associates Properties recently announced a $100 million dollar buyback over 12 months. Last week, mall real estate investment trust CBL & Associates Properties Inc. lowered its forecast for full-year funds from operations. But AG Edwards upgraded the stock to BUY shortly thereafter. It trades for 10x cash flow.

Pool Corp. recently announced a $100 million dollar buyback which includes the prior plan. Swimming pool distributor Pool Corp. on Thursday reported quarterly earnings that were in line with market expectations, and forecast a "modest improvement" in its full-year earnings per share. The stock trades for 11x cash flow.

CKE Restaurants recently announced a $100 million dollar buyback which adds to its prior plan. CKE Restaurants, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the ownership, operation, franchising, and licensing of quick-service and fast-casual restaurants in the United States. It operates its restaurants primarily under the brand names Carl's Jr., Hardee's, The stock trades for 7x cash flow.

For instance Moody’s Corp is in this week portfolio. Credit ratings agency Moody’s has approved a new $2 billion buyback plan set to begin immediately after its existing plan is finished. During the second quarter, the company repurchased 7.7 million shares for $500 million. The New York-based company released impressive second-quarter earnings last Wednesday which were highlighted by a 52% increase in profit. The company saw net profit soar to $261.9 million, or 95 cents a share, from $172.1 million, or 59 cents a share in the same quarter last year. Moody's also reported revenue of $646.1 million compared with $511.4 from the previous year. "There's obviously significant uncertainty and instability in some sectors of the debt marks” said Chief Executive Raymond McDaniel during Wednesday's conference call with analysts. “Chiefly in the U.S. and particularly in those sectors most directly affected by the downturn in the housing market as well as the recent slowdown in LBO activity," We were also pleased to see Benchmark Equity Research reiterate a Buy rating on Moody's with an inflated $66 price target. They mention the recent decline in the share prices makes the valuation attractive. Stellar second-quarter earnings along with the new buyback plan also add to their bullish case. Based on management’s cautious outlook for the second half of the year, Benchmark is revising its forecasts. Still, Benchmark is a believer in Moody's, "Despite management’s lower 2007 outlook, we are reiterating our Buy rating on Moody’s shares reflecting the stocks recent price decline, historically low valuation and the Company’s strong long term growth prospects."