On 27 November 2025 Imperial Brands PLC (LON: IMB) trades ex‑dividend, its share price pulls back from record highs, and the group pushes further into nicotine pouches with new brand Zone.
27 November 2025 – Imperial Brands PLC (LON: IMB, OTC: IMBBY/IMBBF) is in focus today as its shares trade ex‑dividend, the price eases after recently hitting a 52‑week high, and the group expands its next‑generation portfolio with the UK launch of new nicotine pouch brand Zone. [1]
For income investors, today’s ex‑dividend date locks in the latest payout from Imperial’s growing distribution, while the stock’s pullback is largely a technical move rather than a change in fundamentals. Under new CEO Lukas Paravicini, the FTSE 100 tobacco group continues to lean into share buybacks, dividend growth and higher‑margin “next‑generation products” (NGP) such as vapour, heated tobacco and oral nicotine. [2]
Imperial Brands share price today (27 November 2025)
By late afternoon in London, Imperial Brands’ share price is trading around 3,197p, down roughly 2.4% on the day, according to real‑time data from Investing.com. The stock has traded in a day range of 3,193p–3,253p, against a 52‑week range of roughly 2,521p–3,279p, meaning shares are still close to their yearly highs despite today’s decline. [3]
Earlier in the session, London South East and other market commentators also flagged Imperial Brands among the FTSE 100 fallers, quoting levels around 3,230p–3,243p, down just over 1% as trading got under way. [4]
The weakness follows a strong run:
- On 26 November, MarketWatch reported that IMB rose about 1.8% to £32.77, setting a fresh 52‑week high on the London market. [5]
- Reuters noted last week that the shares were up roughly 24% year‑to‑date in 2025, comfortably outperforming the FTSE 100’s c.18.5% gain, boosted by a profit beat and upbeat outlook. [6]
Today’s drop is therefore best seen in context: the stock is coming off record levels and adjusting for the dividend, rather than reacting to negative company‑specific news.
Imperial Brands dividend: stock goes ex‑dividend today
The big calendar event for shareholders this Thursday is the ex‑dividend date.
London‑listed shares (LON: IMB)
Imperial’s own financial calendar confirms that 27 November 2025 is an ex‑dividend date for the group’s latest interim payout. [7]
Dividend data providers indicate: [8]
- Dividend per share: about 40.08p (quarterly), which is consistent with a full‑year FY25 dividend of 160.32p, up 4.5% year‑on‑year.
- Ex‑dividend date:27 November 2025
- Payment date:31 December 2025
Based on today’s approximate price of 3,197p, that annual dividend implies a forward yield of roughly 5–5.5%, depending on the exact share price used. External sites such as Investing.com and other trackers currently show a yield in the 5%+ range. [9]
US ADRs (IMBBF / IMBBY)
For investors holding the US ADRs, several data vendors and brokers are flagging an ex‑dividend date around 27–28 November 2025, with a cash dividend of roughly $0.52–$0.53 per ADR, payable on 31 December 2025. [10]
Because ADR timings can differ slightly between platforms, investors should confirm the precise ex‑dividend and record dates with their own broker before relying on any single figure.
New ‘Zone’ nicotine pouches: Imperial pushes deeper into NGP
While the share price digests the dividend, Imperial has also been busy on the product side.
Today, Scottish Grocer reports that Imperial Brands has formally launched its “Zone” nicotine pouches in the UK, marking a significant expansion into the fast‑growing modern oral nicotine category. [11]
Key details from the launch:
- Brand: Zone nicotine pouches
- Positioning: Aims to help convenience retailers capture booming demand for tobacco‑free pouches among adult nicotine users looking for smoke‑free alternatives.
- Flavours: Five variants, including Sweet Mint, Cool Mint, Watermelon Ice, Juicy Peach and Berry Blast.
- Strengths: Most flavours available in 10 mg pouches, with some also offered in a slightly stronger 11 mg format.
- Format & price: Each pack contains 20 slim pouches designed for a more discreet “mouthfeel”; the recommended retail price is around £6.50 per pack.
Imperial’s UK market manager, Andrew Malm, is quoted saying that the nicotine pouch category could grow more than 200% over the next five years, underlining why the group sees Zone as a “business‑building” opportunity for retailers. [12]
The Zone launch aligns with Imperial’s broader narrative around “healthier futures” and next‑generation products. The company has repeatedly highlighted nicotine pouches as a potentially less harmful way for adult smokers to consume nicotine, given the absence of combustion and tobacco. [13]
Full‑year 2025 results: steady growth and bigger buybacks
Today’s news sits on top of a solid set of FY25 results released earlier this month. On 18 November 2025 Imperial published its full‑year numbers for the 12 months to 30 September 2025. [14]
Highlights (using adjusted, constant‑currency figures where stated):
- Tobacco & NGP net revenue up 4.1%, with total reported revenue marginally lower (‑0.7%) due to duty, logistics and other items.
- Next‑generation product (NGP) net revenue up 13.7%, marking another year of double‑digit growth across vapour, heated tobacco and oral nicotine.
- Adjusted operating profit up 4.6% to about £4.0bn, despite reported operating profit dipping slightly.
- Adjusted EPS up 9.1%, helped both by profit growth and a lower share count from buybacks, even though reported EPS fell due to non‑cash charges.
- Free cash flow around £2.7bn, underpinned by the combustible tobacco business.
On shareholder returns:
- The FY25 dividend was raised 4.5% to 160.32p per share, continuing Imperial’s “progressive” payout policy. [15]
- The company completed a £1.25bn share buyback for FY25, bringing total capital returned between FY21 and FY25 to about £10bn.
- A new £1.45bn buyback for FY26 has already been launched, with the first tranche of up to £725m announced at the end of October. [16]
Reuters reported that this combination of profit growth, NGP momentum and heavier buybacks contributed to a strong market reaction, with the stock gaining roughly 2.5% on results day and significantly outperforming the wider FTSE 100 over 2025 so far. [17]
Leadership change: Paravicini’s first results as CEO
These FY25 numbers are also notable as the first set of results under new CEO Lukas Paravicini.
- Reuters notes that Paravicini plans to extend Imperial’s “challenger” strategy, focusing on disciplined capital allocation, targeted NGP investment and continued share buybacks through 2030. [18]
- Former CEO Stefan Bomhard stepped down at the end of September 2025 after five years in charge, during which Imperial re‑focused its brand portfolio and resumed consistent dividend growth. He has since taken up a non‑executive role at Flutter Entertainment, reflecting his ongoing profile in UK consumer stocks. [19]
The handover appears deliberately evolutionary rather than revolutionary, with Paravicini emphasising continuity around key themes: cash generation, shareholder returns and a measured push into smoke‑free products.
How analysts and income investors are viewing IMB
Recent commentary around Imperial Brands has been broadly supportive, especially from income‑focused investors:
- A series of articles on platforms like The Motley Fool UK and DirectorsTalk highlight Imperial as a high‑yield FTSE 100 “income machine”, pointing to a forward dividend yield around 5–6% and a track record of cash returns. [20]
- RBC Capital recently raised its price target on Imperial Brands to £27 per share (for the London line), signalling confidence in ongoing buybacks and earnings resilience, although the full note is behind a paywall. [21]
- Proactive Investors and Reuters both emphasise growth in smoking alternatives, robust pricing in core cigarette markets, and the promise of annual profit increases in the 3–5% range as part of the medium‑term plan. [22]
At the same time, commentators frequently flag risks: regulatory pressure (including tighter rules and taxes on vaping and nicotine pouches), ongoing ESG concerns around tobacco, and macro headwinds for consumer staples.
What today’s developments mean for Imperial Brands investors
Putting all of this together, here’s how today’s news fits into the bigger picture:
- Share price weakness is largely technical
- The stock is trading lower today, but much of that move reflects the ex‑dividend adjustment and normal volatility after a string of fresh highs. Even after today’s fall, shares remain near their 52‑week peak and meaningfully ahead of where they started the year. [23]
- Dividend story remains central
- With a full‑year dividend of 160.32p per share and another payout now locked in, Imperial continues to look like a high‑yield equity income play. The combination of dividends and buybacks is returning a substantial proportion of earnings to shareholders. [24]
- Zone pouches underscore NGP ambitions
- Today’s launch of Zone in the UK gives Imperial more exposure to tobacco‑free oral nicotine, a segment management expects to grow rapidly over the rest of the decade. It also diversifies away from traditional combustibles while still leveraging the group’s existing distribution into convenience and grocery. [25]
- Strategy: “challenger” positioning plus cash returns
- Imperial is not the biggest global player, but it is trying to use that to its advantage by making focused bets in selected categories and markets, rather than chasing scale at any price. That strategy is now tied to a formal commitment to repeat share buybacks and progressive dividends through at least FY30, assuming conditions allow. [26]
- Key upcoming dates and catalysts
- 31 Dec 2025: payment of today’s interim dividend. [27]
- 19 Feb 2026: next ex‑dividend date.
- 31 Mar 2026: planned final dividend payment (subject to shareholder approval).
- Ongoing execution of the £1.45bn FY26 buyback, plus any regulatory developments around nicotine pouches and the planned UK “vape levy” from 2026, will also be closely watched. [28]
Bottom line
For 27 November 2025, the Imperial Brands story is a blend of:
- Technical share price pressure from going ex‑dividend after a strong run.
- Reinforced income credentials, with another cash payout confirmed and a robust dividend‑and‑buyback policy.
- Strategic evolution, as the group keeps growing NGP revenues and rolls out new products like Zone nic pouches to capture changing consumer preferences.
As always, this article is for information only and is not financial advice. Anyone considering buying or selling Imperial Brands shares or ADRs should do their own research, review the latest official filings and announcements, and consider seeking independent professional advice to ensure the investment fits their objectives and risk tolerance.
References
1. www.imperialbrandsplc.com, 2. www.investegate.co.uk, 3. www.investing.com, 4. www.lse.co.uk, 5. www.marketwatch.com, 6. www.reuters.com, 7. www.imperialbrandsplc.com, 8. www.dividendmax.com, 9. www.investing.com, 10. news.futunn.com, 11. scottishgrocer.co.uk, 12. scottishgrocer.co.uk, 13. www.imperialbrandsplc.com, 14. www.imperialbrandsplc.com, 15. www.investegate.co.uk, 16. www.investegate.co.uk, 17. www.reuters.com, 18. www.reuters.com, 19. www.yogonet.com, 20. www.fool.co.uk, 21. www.streetinsider.com, 22. www.reuters.com, 23. www.investing.com, 24. www.investegate.co.uk, 25. scottishgrocer.co.uk, 26. www.imperialbrandsplc.com, 27. www.imperialbrandsplc.com, 28. www.imperialbrandsplc.com
