London, February 1, 2026, 09:33 GMT — Market closed
- On Friday, Imperial Brands ended the day 1.39% higher, closing at 3,066p (£30.66)
- Company announced an additional buyback tranche as part of its £1.45 billion programme
- Up next: ex-dividend date on Feb. 19; half-year results due May 12
Imperial Brands IMB.L ended Friday at 3,066 pence (£30.66), rising 42 pence, or 1.39%, while the FTSE 100 gained 0.51%. Roughly 1.06 million shares traded, with the stock yielding 5.23% in dividends at close.
With London closed Sunday, all eyes shift to Monday’s reopening (Feb. 2) and if the stock can maintain its gains. For Imperial, the immediate focus remains on cash returns — buybacks and dividends — rather than any new product news.
Feb. 19 is marked as the next ex-dividend date, so anyone buying after won’t be eligible for the upcoming payout. The final dividend is set for March 31, with half-year results due May 12.
Imperial disclosed in a stock exchange filing Friday that it repurchased 88,533 shares at an average price of 3,028.56 pence each, with individual trades ranging from 2,994 to 3,050 pence. This buyback is part of a £1.45 billion programme announced on Oct. 30. The company confirmed it plans to cancel these shares, leaving 791,080,747 shares outstanding, excluding treasury stock.
Share buybacks reduce the number of shares available in the market. This can boost earnings per share over time, even when profits remain steady. But daily buyback amounts tend to be modest, and the support they provide often vanishes quickly if the activity slows down.
Imperial’s shift coincided with UK tobacco stocks gaining ground late in the week. British American Tobacco closed Friday 1.13% higher, at 4,376 pence.
The sector’s risk remains familiar: regulatory changes can hit fast, and investors watch cigarette volume declines closely. If pricing fails to offset those drops, buybacks merely cushion the impact a bit.
Imperial has highlighted tobacco pricing and the rising popularity of smoking alternatives as key growth factors, alongside its strategy of returning cash to shareholders.
Monday’s open will focus on follow-through, ahead of positioning for the Feb. 19 ex-dividend date. The next major event to watch is May 12, when the half-year results are released.
