London, Feb 17, 2026, 08:14 GMT — Regular session underway.
- Shares in BAE Systems slipped in the morning, giving back some of the previous session’s 3% jump.
- The company announced it’s buying back more of its own shares on the open market.
- The company is set to report full-year results Wednesday.
Shares of BAE Systems slipped roughly 1.1% to 2,007 pence in early London trade Tuesday, following a solid run in the previous session. Full-year results are expected Wednesday.
The defence company reported purchasing 105,814 shares on Monday to cancel, shelling out between 1,980 and 2,032 pence apiece. The volume-weighted average landed at 2,022.5 pence. (That figure reflects the average price per share, adjusted for trading volume at each price.
The buyback is part of a broader repurchase strategy BAE kicked off in 2023, and a second phase is slated for mid-2025. Investors are watching closely, zeroing in on the company’s dividend and buyback “floor” as results draw near. Full-year numbers drop Feb. 18, with the annual meeting penciled in for May. BAE Systems Investors
Defence names are feeling political pressure again. Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday pushed for the UK to “go faster” on defence spending, following reports that the government might advance its 3% of GDP target. Reuters
BAE ended Monday’s session 3.1% higher at 20.29 pounds, according to MarketWatch data. That’s above the FTSE 100’s showing for the day, though shares remain below their January highs.
According to a separate filing released Monday, BAE snapped up 108,958 shares on Feb. 13, shelling out a volume-weighted average of 1,964.15 pence per share.
Investors are zeroed in on what BAE will reveal around cash generation, margins for 2026, and the pace of order intake. They’ll also be listening for any signals on supply chain bottlenecks as output steps up across major programmes.
Risks remain. The Guardian said Sunday a new explosives plant at Glascoed, Wales—expected to boost UK shell production—still isn’t open, missing its planned 2025 launch and underlining the practical snags dogging the rearmament push.
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