London, Jan 17, 2026, 09:15 GMT — Market closed.
- Ashtead shares closed Friday at 5,302 pence, slipping 0.4%.
- A filing revealed the group purchased 72,300 shares for its treasury, paying an average of 5,327.7 pence each.
- Traders are focused on the pace of buybacks and the schedule for Ashtead’s upcoming U.S. relisting.
Ashtead Group shares dipped 22 pence, or 0.41%, ending Friday at 5,302 pence in London. During the session, the stock fluctuated between 5,268 and 5,346 pence. 1
Ashtead’s ongoing wave of buyback announcements is crucial as the equipment rental giant aims to highlight cash returns ahead of its planned move to list primarily on the New York Stock Exchange. The company, which operates as Sunbelt Rentals, is already the second-largest equipment rental firm in the U.S. 2
On Friday, a regulatory filing revealed Ashtead purchased 72,300 ordinary shares for treasury on Jan. 15, at an average price of 5,327.7272 pence each, with J.P. Morgan Securities acting as broker. Following the buyback, the company said it will have 416,242,497 shares outstanding, excluding treasury shares, while holding 35,112,336 shares in treasury. 3
Shares held “in treasury” are those a company has bought back but kept on its balance sheet instead of cancelling immediately.
Ashtead is leaning on buybacks, insisting the business continues to generate cash despite a tougher construction market. “We are reaffirming our guidance for rental revenue, capex and free cash flow for the year,” CEO Brendan Horgan said in December. That’s when the group also announced a new repurchase programme to coincide with its relisting plans. 4
The London session kicks off with U.S. equity markets closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, often muting sector signals from Wall Street despite U.S.-linked stocks moving in Europe. 5
The risk remains that buybacks won’t boost sentiment much if U.S. non-residential construction stays sluggish or borrowing costs climb again. Any delay or glitch in the relisting process could quickly try investors’ patience.
Investors are eyeing March 2 as a key date, when Ashtead plans to kick off its $1.5 billion share buyback. This launch will coincide with Sunbelt Rentals’ debut on the NYSE and LSE. The company said the buyback will start on the LSE before moving to New York, running through no later than June 24. 6
