A graph showing trailing 12 months of Gross Share Buybacks, Dividends, and Capital Expenditures. The Y-axis rises from $0 to $700,000 in increments of $100,000. The X-axis goes from 2010 to 2016 in increments of 1 year. The S and P 500 (Ex-Fins) CapEx line begins at $400,000 in 2010, rises to $500,000 in 2011, to $575,000 in 2012, to $610,000 in 2013, to $650,000 in 2014 and $675,000 in 2015. The line then dips down to $610,000 by the end of 2016. The S and P 500 (Ex-Fins) Buybacks line begins at $200,000 in 2010, rises to $310,000 in 2011, to $350,000 in 2012, then dips to $325,000 and rises to back to $350,000 by 2013. The line rises to $490,000 in 2014, then to $500,000 before dipping to $475,000 in 2015 before rising to $500,000 by 2016. The S and P 500 (Ex-Fins) Dividends line begins at $190,000 in 2010, rises to $210,000 in 2011, to $225,000 in 2012, to $290,000 in 2013, to $310,000 in 2014, $350,000 in 2015 and up to $375,000 by 2016. This chart shows the amount (in billions) of share buybacks, dividends, and capital expenditures for S&P 500 companies from 2010 to 2016