Lincoln Electric Holdings (LECO) Stock Buyback History
TTM buyback yield 2.11% · Shareholder yield (TTM) 2.11%.
TTM buyback yield
2.11%
Shareholder yield (TTM)
2.11%
5Y share count change
-7.3%
TTM buyback spend
$288.28M
SBC coverage (TTM)
38.14x
YoY change in spend
+28.3%
5Y CAGR of spend
+24.4%
Peak year (1994)
$416.20M
Cumulative spend
$3.88B
TTM metrics calculated from the four most recent reported quarters, ending (reported ).
Key takeaways
- Lincoln Electric Holdings (LECO) repurchased about $288.28M of stock over the trailing twelve months.
- Diluted share count is down 7.3% over the last ~5 fiscal years — buybacks are net-shrinking the share base.
- TTM buyback ÷ stock-based-comp ratio of 38.14× — repurchases more than cover SBC dilution.
- Cash buyback spend has compounded at +24.4% per year over the latest 5-year window.
- TTM repurchases used about 107% of free cash flow remaining after dividends.
Buyback context per fiscal year
Annual repurchases alongside stock-based compensation, diluted share count and the year-over-year change — useful for SBC-coverage and dilution-offset reading at a glance.
| Year | Buybacks | SBC | Net | Shares (dil.) | YoY shares | Buyback yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $338.31M | $0.00 | $338.31M | 0.06B | -2.3% | 2.57% |
| 2024 | $263.75M | $24.05M | $239.70M | 0.06B | -1.8% | 2.50% |
| 2023 | $198.76M | $26.23M | $172.53M | 0.06B | -0.9% | 1.60% |
| 2022 | $181.29M | $25.27M | $156.03M | 0.06B | -2.2% | 2.18% |
| 2021 | $164.53M | $23.79M | $140.74M | 0.06B | -0.3% | 2.00% |
| 2020 | $113.45M | $15.39M | $98.07M | 0.06B | -3.8% | 1.64% |
| 2019 | $292.69M | $16.62M | $276.07M | 0.06B | -4.6% | 4.96% |
| 2018 | $201.65M | $18.55M | $183.10M | 0.07B | -1.4% | 4.01% |
| 2017 | $43.16M | $12.70M | $30.47M | 0.07B | -2.2% | 0.72% |
| 2016 | $342.00M | $10.33M | $331.67M | 0.07B | -8.9% | 6.80% |
| 2015 | $399.49M | $7.93M | $391.56M | 0.07B | -6.5% | 10.78% |
| 2014 | $307.18M | $8.42M | $298.76M | 0.08B | -3.5% | 5.74% |
| 2013 | $167.88M | $9.73M | $158.15M | 0.08B | -1.3% | 2.90% |
| 2012 | $81.02M | $8.96M | $72.06M | 0.08B | -0.6% | 2.01% |
| 2011 | $37.00M | $6.61M | $30.39M | 0.08B | -0.6% | 1.13% |
| 2010 | $39.68M | $8.21M | $31.47M | 0.09B | -0.1% | 1.45% |
| 2009 | $343.00K | $5.43M | −$5.09M | 0.09B | -1.0% | 0.02% |
| 2008 | $42.34M | $4.74M | $37.60M | 0.09B | -0.8% | 1.96% |
| 2007 | $15.46M | $4.68M | $10.78M | 0.09B | 0.9% | 0.51% |
| 2006 | $126.00K | $0.00 | $126.00K | 0.09B | 2.0% | 0.00% |
| 2005 | $12.80M | $3.53M | $9.28M | 0.08B | 1.3% | 0.77% |
| 2004 | $4.37M | $4.14M | $223.00K | 0.08B | 0.0% | 0.31% |
| 2003 | $41.99M | $0.00 | $41.99M | 0.08B | -3.3% | 4.23% |
| 2002 | $11.59M | $0.00 | $11.59M | 0.09B | 0.9% | 1.19% |
| 2001 | $536.00K | $0.00 | $536.00K | 0.09B | -0.1% | 0.05% |
| 2000 | $41.56M | $0.00 | $41.56M | 0.09B | -6.5% | — |
| 1999 | $75.60M | $0.00 | $75.60M | 0.09B | -7.0% | — |
| 1998 | $22.70M | $0.00 | $22.70M | 0.10B | -0.6% | — |
| 1997 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.10B | -1.0% | — |
| 1996 | $27.40M | $0.00 | $27.40M | 0.10B | — | — |
| 1995 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | — | — | — |
| 1994 | $416.20M | $0.00 | $416.20M | — | — | — |
Cash buyback spend (USD) — annual & quarterly history
Trailing-twelve-month and per-period cash repurchases for Lincoln Electric Holdings (LECO) from the consolidated cash flow statement (line: common stock repurchased), in USD as filed.
Cash buyback spend over time for Lincoln Electric Holdings (LECO)
Per-period cash repurchases
Cash buyback spend annual + quarterly history for Lincoln Electric Holdings (LECO)
| Fiscal year | Period ended | Reported | Buyback Spend | YoY | YoY change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $338.31M | +28.3% | +$74.56M | ||
| 2024 | $263.75M | +32.7% | +$64.99M | ||
| 2023 | $198.76M | +9.6% | +$17.47M | ||
| 2022 | $181.29M | +10.2% | +$16.77M | ||
| 2021 | $164.53M | +45.0% | +$51.07M | ||
| 2020 | $113.45M | -61.2% | -$179.24M | ||
| 2019 | $292.69M | +45.1% | +$91.04M | ||
| 2018 | $201.65M | +367.2% | +$158.49M | ||
| 2017 | $43.16M | -87.4% | -$298.84M | ||
| 2016 | $342.00M | -14.4% | -$57.49M | ||
| 2015 | $399.49M | +30.1% | +$92.32M | ||
| 2014 | $307.18M | +83.0% | +$139.30M | ||
| 2013 | $167.88M | +107.2% | +$86.86M | ||
| 2012 | $81.02M | +119.0% | +$44.02M | ||
| 2011 | $37.00M | -6.8% | -$2.69M | ||
| 2010 | $39.68M | +11469.1% | +$39.34M | ||
| 2009 | $343,000 | -99.2% | -$41.99M | ||
| 2008 | $42.34M | +173.9% | +$26.88M | ||
| 2007 | $15.46M | +12169.0% | +$15.33M | ||
| 2006 | $126,000 | -99.0% | -$12.68M | ||
| 2005 | $12.80M | +193.1% | +$8.44M | ||
| 2004 | $4.37M | -89.6% | -$37.63M | ||
| 2003 | $41.99M | +262.3% | +$30.40M | ||
| 2002 | $11.59M | +2062.3% | +$11.05M | ||
| 2001 | $536,000 | -98.7% | -$41.02M | ||
| 2000 | $41.56M | -45.0% | -$34.04M | ||
| 1999 | $75.60M | +233.0% | +$52.90M | ||
| 1998 | $22.70M | — | +$22.70M | ||
| 1997 | $0 | -100.0% | -$27.40M | ||
| 1996 | $27.40M | — | +$27.40M | ||
| 1995 | $0 | -100.0% | -$416.20M | ||
| 1994 | $416.20M | — | — |
Lincoln Electric Holdings (LECO) most recent annual buyback spend stands at $338.31M (2025) – grew 28.3% year-over-year.
Lincoln Electric Holdings buyback spend compound annual growth for the 2020–2025 (5 years) window is +24.4%, sustaining 5 straight years of year-over-year growth.
Lincoln Electric Holdings buyback spend declined from $416.20M in 1994 to $338.31M in 2025, a 18.7% drawdown.
1994 marks the peak buyback spend at $416.20M, with the historical low of $0 recorded in 1995.
Lincoln Electric Holdings (LECO) sits 7th of 8 Industrials peers we track on this metric, against a peer median of $2.27B.
Lincoln Electric Holdings Buyback Spend 2025: $338.31M
Lincoln Electric Holdings buyback spend in 2025 was $338.31M, grew 28.3% from 2024.
Lincoln Electric Holdings Buyback Spend 2024: $263.75M
Lincoln Electric Holdings buyback spend in 2024 was $263.75M, surged 32.7% from 2023.
Lincoln Electric Holdings Buyback Spend 2023: $198.76M
Lincoln Electric Holdings buyback spend in 2023 was $198.76M, grew 9.6% from 2022.
Lincoln Electric Holdings Buyback Spend 2022: $181.29M
Lincoln Electric Holdings buyback spend in 2022 was $181.29M, grew 10.2% from 2021.
Lincoln Electric Holdings Buyback Spend 2021: $164.53M
Lincoln Electric Holdings buyback spend in 2021 was $164.53M.
See more financial history for Lincoln Electric Holdings (LECO).
Sector peers by buyback spend
Companies in the same sector as Lincoln Electric Holdings, ranked by their latest buyback spend.
| Company | Buyback Spend | Sector |
|---|---|---|
| GE Aerospace (GE) | $7.55B | Industrials |
| Caterpillar (CAT) | $5.19B | Industrials |
| Honeywell International (HON) | $3.80B | Industrials |
| Union Pacific (UNP) | $2.68B | Industrials |
| Eaton Corporation (ETN) | $1.86B | Industrials |
| Deere & Company (DE) | $1.14B | Industrials |
| RTX (RTX) | $50.00M | Industrials |
| Boeing (BA) | $0 | Industrials |
Share count history
Diluted weighted-average shares drive the EPS denominator and per-share capital-return maths. A falling diluted share count means buybacks are outpacing dilution from stock-based compensation and option exercises.
Diluted vs basic shares (annual)
Year-over-year change in diluted shares
Green is fewer shares vs the prior fiscal year (net repurchase); red is growth (dilution). The earliest year shown has no prior year to compare.
Dividend & buyback yield over time
Stacked annual yields — buyback yield (TTM cash repurchases ÷ market cap) plus dividend yield from the same fiscal-year-end key-metrics period — show how total cash return per dollar of equity has evolved.
Buybacks vs stock-based compensation
Annual cash repurchases set against stock-based compensation. Coverage above 1× means buybacks fully offset the equity dilution from SBC. TTM coverage: 38.14×.
Capital allocation mix
How Lincoln Electric Holdings splits cash returned to shareholders between dividends and buybacks, plus the headroom on free cash flow that's still available for additional repurchases.
Buybacks vs dividends (share of cash returned)
Buyback capacity (TTM)
Free cash flow minus dividends paid versus actual TTM repurchases — the headroom bar shows how much of post-dividend FCF is still being deployed elsewhere.
Headroom $269.13M (TTM FCF − TTM dividends, clamped at zero).
Data & methodology
Where do buyback, dividend and compensation figures come from?
Cash buyback spend (common stock repurchased), dividends paid and stock-based compensation come from Lincoln Electric Holdings's consolidated cash flow statements — quarterly 10-Q and annual 10-K SEC filings, in USD as reported.
How are diluted shares and yields calculated?
Diluted weighted-average share counts come from the income statement (EPS denominator). Trailing twelve-month (TTM) aggregates sum the four most recent reported quarters. Buyback and dividend yields divide TTM cash flows by market capitalisation at the latest quarter-end.
How is buyback capacity defined?
Capacity compares TTM repurchases to free cash flow after dividends: operating cash flow minus capital expenditure, minus dividends paid, versus actual buybacks over the same trailing window.
Is this investment advice?
No. Figures are for informational and educational use only. Past buybacks and dividends do not predict future returns.
Frequently asked questions
Does Lincoln Electric Holdings buy back its own stock?
Yes, Lincoln Electric Holdings (LECO) has repurchased shares in recent periods. See the history table and charts on this page for amounts and trends.
How much does Lincoln Electric Holdings spend on share buybacks?
Trailing twelve months (TTM) buyback spend is about $288.28M (sum of the last four quarterly cash-flow periods in our data). Figures are illustrative; verify in filings.
What is Lincoln Electric Holdings's buyback yield?
TTM buyback yield is about 2.11% (TTM buyback spend divided by market cap at the latest quarter-end in our data).
What is Lincoln Electric Holdings's shareholder yield?
Shareholder yield combines dividend yield and buyback yield. For the latest period we show approximately 2.11% combined (TTM-based where available).
Is Lincoln Electric Holdings diluting shareholders?
Compare stock-based compensation (SBC) to buybacks in the chart above. Net effect varies by year; see annual buyback vs SBC bars and the history table.
How has Lincoln Electric Holdings's share count changed?
Diluted weighted average shares changed by about -7.3% over roughly five fiscal years (annual income statement data).
What is Lincoln Electric Holdings's buyback spend?
Latest reported buyback spend for Lincoln Electric Holdings (LECO) is $288.28M (period ending March 31, 2026).
How has Lincoln Electric Holdings buyback spend changed year-over-year?
Lincoln Electric Holdings (LECO) buyback spend changed +28.3% year-over-year on the latest annual filing.
What is the long-term growth rate of Lincoln Electric Holdings buyback spend?
Lincoln Electric Holdings (LECO) buyback spend compound annual growth rate is +24.4% over the most recent 5 years available.
When did Lincoln Electric Holdings buyback spend hit its highest annual value?
Lincoln Electric Holdings buyback spend reached its highest annual value of $416.20M in 1994.
What was Lincoln Electric Holdings buyback spend in 2024?
Lincoln Electric Holdings (LECO) buyback spend in 2024 was $263.75M.
What was Lincoln Electric Holdings buyback spend in 2025?
Lincoln Electric Holdings (LECO) buyback spend in 2025 was $338.31M.
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