Points to Must Remember

 An Eigenvalue Buckling analysis must be linked to (proceeded by) a Static

Structural Analysis. This static analysis can be either linear or nonlinear and the
linear perturbation procedure refers to it as the "base analysis" (as either linear
or nonlinear).
 The nonlinearities present in the static analysis can be the result of nonlinear:
o Geometry (the Large Deformation property is set to Yes)
o Contact status (a contact definition other than Bonded and No
Separation type with MPC formulation)
o Material (e.g., definition of nonlinear material properties in Engineering
Data, such as hyperelasticity, plasticity, etc.)
o Connection (e.g., nonlinear joints and nonlinear springs)
 A structure can have an infinite number of buckling load factors. Each load factor
is associated with a different instability pattern. Typically the lowest load factor is
of interest.
 Based upon how you apply loads to a structure, load factors can either be
positive or negative. The application sorts load factors from the most negative
values to the most positive values. The minimum buckling load factor may
correspond to the smallest eigenvalue in absolute value.
 For Pressure boundary conditions in the Static Structural analysis: if you define
the load with the Normal To option for faces (3D) or edges (2-D), you could
experience an additional stiffness contribution called the "pressure load stiffness"
effect. The Normal To option causes the pressure acts as a follower load, which
means that it continues to act in a direction normal to the scoped entity even as
the structure deforms. Pressure loads defined with
the Components or Vector options act in a constant direction even as the
structure deforms. For a same magnitude, the "normal to" pressure and the
component/vector pressure can result in a significantly different buckling load
factor in the follow-on Eigenvalue Buckling analysis.
 Buckling mode shapes do not represent actual displacements but help you to
visualize how a part or an assembly deforms when buckling.
 The procedure that the MAPDL solver uses to evaluate buckling load factors is
dependent upon whether the pre-stressed Eigenvalue Buckling analysis is linear-
based (linear prestress analysis) or nonlinear-based (nonlinear prestress
analysis). The subsequent Help topics examine each case.

Negative buckling factors mean that the structure will not buckle. Never. At least with
current load cases.
Consider a tank in pressure. It will never buckle and indeed its buckling factors will be negative.
What you said might be true (I can not assure on this).
Buckling factors indicate the factor that load has to be increased, (or “multiplied by” could be a
better expression) so the first buckling mode will appear and so on. If you apply 10kN and the
buckling factor is 2, then you have to apply 10*2=20kN for buckling. If the buckling factor is
negative it means that if you increase the load then you are further away from buckling. Reversing
the load and multiplying by the factor (if greater tha one) indeed makes sense that it will create
buckling.