London, Feb 1, 2026, 09:05 GMT — The market has closed.
Ashtead Group’s shares slipped 0.8% to 4,687 pence on Friday, following a sharper 7.6% drop the previous day. The stock traded in a range from 4,684.6p up to 4,840p, still far off its 52-week peak of 5,612p, according to Hargreaves Lansdown data. (Hargreaves Lansdown)
With the London market closed on Sunday, shares head into Monday as investors weigh a sharp price move alongside a series of corporate developments that might alter trading dynamics. Ashtead announced plans for a possible U.S. listing. (Ashtead Group)
Ashtead revealed in a regulatory filing on Friday that it repurchased 72,800 shares on Jan. 29, paying an average of 4,836.8858 pence per share. This move falls under its repurchase programme, which allows for up to $1.5 billion in buybacks. The filing also showed the company’s treasury stock now stands at 35,847,987 shares. (London South East)
That buyback average is actually higher than Friday’s closing price. It highlights that last week’s drop didn’t happen gradually.
Ashtead’s mood has been influenced by its larger capital-return plans. CEO Brendan Horgan announced in December that the company will kick off a new $1.5 billion buyback on March 2, timed to “coincide with the re-listing.” The current buyback programme is set to wrap up by the end of February. Additionally, Ashtead confirmed an interim dividend of 37.5 cents a share payable on Feb. 6. (Ashtead Group)
The stock is trading ex-dividend, meaning buyers now won’t receive the February payout.
The path isn’t straightforward. Delays in approvals or the UK court system could push timelines back, and the shares have proven they can react sharply when market patience runs thin.
In the next session, traders will be weighing if Friday’s dip lures in buyers or if the late-week decline presses on. Cash returns play a role, but mechanics are just as crucial.
Ashtead announced last week that Sunbelt Rentals Holdings has filed a Form 10—a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission—and expects it to become effective on Feb. 26. The company also highlighted a court-approved scheme of arrangement set for Feb. 27. Admission to the New York Stock Exchange, along with a secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange, is anticipated on Monday, March 2, pending approvals including from the UK Financial Conduct Authority, trading under the ticker “SUNB.” (London South East)
