On January 5, 2020, ABC Corporation received a charter granting the right to issue 5,000 shares of $100 par value, 8% cumulative and nonparticipating preferred stock, and 50,000 shares of $10 par value common stock. It then completed these transactions.

Jan. 11 Issued 20,000 shares of common stock at $16 per share.

Feb. 1 Issued to Sanchez Corp. 4,000 shares of preferred stock for the following assets: equipment with a fair value of $50,000; a factory building with a fair value of $160,000; and land with an appraised value of $270,000.

July 29 Purchased 1,800 shares of common stock at $17 per share. (Use cost method.)

Aug. 10 Sold the 1,800 treasury shares at $14 per share.

Dec. 31 Declared a $0.25 per share cash dividend on the common stock and declared the preferred dividend.

Dec. 31 Closed the Income Summary account. There was a $175,700 net income.

Question: Assuming year-over-year net income is consistent, what effect does a stock repurchase program have on Earnings per Share. Why would management take this action?