[Samsung Electronics Plans to Restart Aggressive Shareholder Return Program for the First Time in a Decade, Potentially Mirroring the 2017 Plan with Buybacks and Cancellations as Priorities] BlockBeats News, July 30: Citrini analyst Jukan cited a report from South Korea's Meritz Securities, stating that Samsung Electronics is expected to announce a shareholder return program in the coming weeks, comparable in scale to the aggressive plan of 2017—marking the first restart of an "early execution plan" in nearly a decade. Specific measures include increasing dividends, no longer deducting M&A expenses when calculating free cash flow, and returning 50% of free cash flow in full to shareholders. The Meritz report noted that Samsung's management has acknowledged that the recent decline in its stock price has led to an undervaluation of its shares. Therefore, initiatives such as buybacks and cancellations, which directly enhance shareholder value, are expected to be implemented first. In July, Samsung Electronics faced pressure due to structural factors such as the overall pullback in the memory chip sector and forced liquidations of leveraged ETFs. Its current stock price remains significantly discounted compared to its June peak. If this return plan is realized, it will signify a structural shift in Samsung's capital allocation strategy from conservative expansion to prioritizing shareholder returns. [Original Link]