I have to give you some old fashion experience regarding stock buybacks. When a company is buying back stock on the market they put those shares back into the Treasury of the company which will not have an affect on the Issued numbers reported by the T/A. They do not know who owns the stock except when the company requests a NOBO list. Until the company actually cancels those shares they will be part of the Issued numbers. Now some companies buy back shares, put them into the Treasury just to plan to sell them later for a profit. Capital appreciation while providing cash flow for future expansion. Sorry to burst your inexperience bubble!