Apple Announces Stock Dividend and Buyback Program (AAPL)
Investors and analysts finally do not have to speculate about Apple's surplus of nearly $100 billion in cash. According to the New York Times, the tech giant announced Monday it would pay a stock dividend of $2.65 a share in the fourth quarter. The company board also authorized a $10 billion share buyback program to reward investors.

Apple issued a media alert on Sunday evening saying it planned to announce the long-awaited decision by its board about what to do with the large amount of cash. This allowed everyone from analysts to bloggers to speculate about what they would do with the money. Many on Wall Street called for the company to give some money back it its shareholders. Luckily, the company appeased the masses.

In a statement, Apple CEO, Tim Cook said, 'We have used some of our cash to make great investments in our business through increased research and development, acquisitions, new retail store openings, strategic prepayments and capital expenditures in our supply chain, and building out our infrastructure. You'll see more of all of these in the future.'

Apple halted trading on its stock on Monday. This is the first time the company has paid out a dividend to its shareholders since 1995..