The Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) share price is up an incredible 130% over just the past year as the iron ore miner handed out $1.14 per share in fully franked dividends over the period.
On that basis alone it offers a trailing yield of 13% at today's share price of $8.80.
Thanks to the rising iron ore price generating mountains of free cash flow for Fortescue over fiscal 2019 it has also been able to buy back around 34.8 million shares for $140 million since October 2018.
Today it announced plans to buy back up to another $500 million worth of shares over the next 12 months depending on market conditions and the iron ore price for example.
Whether a cyclical miner should be in the market buying back shares at all time highs when it has US$4 billion of gross debt on its balance sheet around 1.25x fiscal 2019's profit is up for debate.
However, in fairness Fortescue's management built its business on a mountain of debt and it has always been a risk taking business that has succeeded despite the doubters.
As such investors in the stock can continue to expect a bumpy ride.
