Companies to return a record $1 trillion to investors this year in form of buybacks and dividends, estimates S&P

"Given the environment, availability of cash, increased income expectations, and the 'desire' of companies to show shareholder return, the return to a double-digit actual cash payment gain (year-over-year) seems feasible, along with the first trillion-dollar year of dividends and buybacks for the S&P 500," writes Howard Silverblatt, senior index analyst at S&P Dow Jones Indices.