Way too many jumped to conclusions and fell prey to false panic about this increase in the A/S. This A/S increase should not have been a surprise to anyone and is not a negative. The company is now in a much better position than it was before the increase in the A/S when there were 495 out of 500 mil shares in the O/S.
The company would actually have been negligent NOT to increase the A/S and did so like any company would in the same position. Once the O/S is maxed out or close to it, a company MUST protect itself and its shareholders by increasing the A/S so no one outside investor or company can buy up a majority of the issued shares and take control of the company. The company also needed to increase the A/S so it can be in a position to negotiate with potential merger/acquisition candidates.
It also would have been stupid to just increase the A/S by only 100 or 200 million. Now they not only have protection from any takeover, the company and its shareholders are also in an absolutely BETTER position now than before the A/S increase, as the company has the shares available if needed to acquire or merge with another company.