London, Jan 22, 2026, 08:01 GMT — Regular session
- Rolls-Royce shares slipped 0.2% in early trading following a fresh buyback announcement.
- The company reported buying back 534,258 shares on Jan. 21 as part of its £200 million programme.
- A distinct defence order for 350 mtu engines kept contract flow prospects into 2026 in focus.
Rolls-Royce Holdings plc shares slipped slightly at Thursday’s London open following the announcement of a fresh batch of share buybacks, keeping the repurchase plan under the spotlight. By 0801 GMT, the stock had dipped 0.2% to 1,252.5 pence. 1
The filing matters because daily buyback updates have become a steady drumbeat for the stock, which has rallied hard over the past year. Investors are still trying to work out how much of the recent move is about improving operations, and how much is simply the market paying up for cash returns.
Rolls-Royce revealed it purchased 534,258 ordinary shares on Jan. 21 via UBS under its £200 million buyback scheme announced last December, with plans to cancel the shares. Since starting the programme, it has repurchased 6.64 million shares at an average price around 1,264.7 pence each. 2
Rolls-Royce said it is delivering 350 mtu Series 199 engines for Boxer wheeled armoured vehicles, with orders from Rheinmetall and KNDS Deutschland. “Today’s armed forces need greater mobility, flexibility and performance – and we are rising to this challenge,” said Dr Jörg Stratmann, CEO of Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG. 3
Wednesday’s trading hit Rolls-Royce hard, with shares slipping 2.03% to £12.55. That underperformance came despite a modest gain in the FTSE 100. According to MarketWatch, the stock ended nearly 4% below its 52-week peak reached just last week. 4
The defence order bolsters a pipeline that’s typically more stable than the group’s civil aerospace segment, which depends heavily on engine hours and subsequent aftermarket service. Still, this isn’t a fast turnaround—the Boxer vehicle deliveries are set for the first half of 2026.
Traders keep a close eye on how buybacks influence price moves. In essence, a buyback means the company purchases its own shares on the market. If those shares are then cancelled, the total share count drops.
The bar remains set high. A dip in cash flow, renewed supply chain woes, or fewer engine flying hours could quickly shift focus back to valuation. After a rally like this, profit-taking could come fast.
Rolls-Royce competes closely with GE Aerospace and RTX’s Pratt & Whitney in commercial engines, where shifts in delivery timetables and reliability concerns quickly sway sentiment. On the defence side, contract wins come in fits and starts, leaving investors restless during stretches without major headline deals.
Rolls-Royce is set to release its full-year 2025 results on Feb. 26. Investors will be watching closely for updates on cash flow, the share buyback, and guidance for 2026. 5
