Berkshire Hathaway has a prodigious appetite for dividend-payers in its investment portfolio, but the Oracle of Omaha himself has long refused quarterly or annual payments to shareholders and only recently repurchased stock.

FORBES: Why One Dividend Lover Won't Touch Microsoft Or Wal-Mart

According to the National Association of Securities Dealers, in 1996 Sitomer and Rome sold stock in a company they were underwriting, then repurchased the stock and resold it at a higher price.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Microsoft repurchased more stock in the third quarter of calendar 2010 than any other company in the nation, according to data pulled from Thomson Reuters via FactSet Research Systems.

FORBES: Microsoft's Big New Strategy Is Shunned By Apple

To make that list, a stock must have repurchased at least 5% of its outstanding shares over the trailing twelve month period.

FORBES: See How Discover Financial Services Ranks Among Analysts' Top Picks With Strong Buyback Activity

In a short sale, a trader sells borrowed stock, hoping it will fall in price and can be repurchased later at a profit.

WSJ: McCain Says Cox Should Be Fired As SEC Chief Amid 'Casino' Markets