It is well established that America’s largest companies have been stockpiling cash over the past 24 months at alarming rates. Estimates range from $1.5 trillion to $2.8 trillion depending on who’s counting, but we can all agree, it’s a boatload of cash. And at first blush, who can blame them? With interest rates at historic lows, market volatility, political uncertainty, the European crisis, severe commodity price fluctuations, and other unpredictable market conditions, corporate brands and executives have been understandably inclined to sit on the sidelines.