Which of the following best describes a major reason firms opt for stock buybacks?

Firms often opt for stock buybacks primarily to replace equity with debt as a strategic financial maneuver. This is known as leveraging, where the company reduces the proportion of equity in its capital structure by buying back shares and, in many cases, subsequently taking on debt. This can lead to a higher return on equity (ROE) since the same amount of earnings will now be distributed to a smaller equity base. Furthermore, by replacing equity with debt, companies might also benefit from tax advantages as interest on debt is generally tax-deductible, potentially leading to increased overall firm value.

While replacing equity with debt is a significant motivation, companies can engage in buybacks for other reasons, such as benefiting employees through stock options, enhancing perceived brand reputation, or allowing for aggressive marketing strategies. However, these factors are generally secondary to the overarching financial strategy of capital structure management through buybacks.