LONDON, Feb 17, 2026, 08:29 GMT — Regular session running.
- British American Tobacco picked up 0.8% to trade at 4,340 pence right after the open.
- The company said it picked up 112,212 shares in its buyback program on Feb. 16.
- Traders are watching for a U.S. vape decision expected in March, with BAT’s ex-dividend date falling on March 26.
Shares of British American Tobacco edged 0.8% higher to 4,340 pence by 0829 GMT on Tuesday in London, following news of fresh buys under its ongoing share repurchase scheme. The company reported another round of purchases. https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/BATS/
BAT’s reliance on cash returns has helped steady investors as it pours money into “smokeless” categories—think nicotine pouches and vapes. Buybacks—essentially the company scooping up its own shares—have a way of boosting earnings per share by cutting down the number of shares out there.
BAT disclosed in a separate Monday filing that Chief Executive Tadeu Marroco, along with a person closely linked to him, picked up 157 shares each by reinvesting dividend payouts—a modest move, but one that tends to draw attention from those tracking insider activity.
BAT ended Monday’s session at 4,305 pence, exchange data from Yahoo Finance shows.
Last week, the company posted its full-year numbers. Annual profit climbed, helped by Velo nicotine pouches picking up more U.S. market share. Management also pointed to an AI-driven productivity plan that may result in job losses, though Interim CFO Javed Iqbal said it’s still too soon to estimate the scale.
Regulation headaches persist. BAT told Reuters a possible U.S. import ban targeting unauthorized disposable vapes could slash America’s illicit vape market by as much as a third. The U.S. International Trade Commission will make its call in March 2026, and then there’s a 60-day window for presidential review.
It’s a close contest. Philip Morris’s Zyn remains the frontrunner in U.S. nicotine pouches, but Jefferies analyst Andrei Andon-Ionita thinks BAT has a real shot at grabbing more share in the space.
Familiar risks still hang over the sector: illegal products grabbing share, the threat of stricter regulations arriving sooner than the market expects, and pricing pressure squeezing margins. BAT, in its results statement, flagged continued fallout from “illicit proliferation” in the vapour segment. The company also highlighted regulatory and tax headwinds in Bangladesh and Australia. https://www.bat.com/media/press-releases/_…
Investors now turn to the March ITC decision stateside, as well as BAT’s upcoming dividend schedule. Shares go ex-dividend March 26, with payment following on May 7 under the LSE calendar.
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