London, Jan 18, 2026, 09:06 GMT — Markets have closed.
- Vodafone shares ended Friday at 100.80 pence, edging up 0.05 pence
- Vodafone announced an additional buyback, snapping up 2.9 million shares
- Investors are now turning their attention to the Q3 FY26 trading update due Feb. 5
Shares of Vodafone Group (VOD.L) closed Friday almost flat, following the company’s announcement of another share buyback. The stock remained near the £1 mark as the new week began.
It matters now since fresh company news is scarce, and the next significant update on operational momentum won’t arrive for weeks. For now, the buyback serves as a slow-moving bid beneath the shares — not a fix-all, but enough to shift the tape’s tone.
Vodafone repurchased 2,908,415 ordinary shares on Jan. 15 from Merrill Lynch International at a volume-weighted average price of 100.98 pence, according to a filing. The share price during the buyback ranged between 99.06 pence and 101.65 pence. This transaction was part of a programme Vodafone announced on Nov. 11, 2025. The company will hold these shares in treasury, bringing its treasury stock to 1,437,083,188 shares. Excluding treasury shares, Vodafone has 23,440,877,569 shares outstanding. 1
Vodafone ended the day at 100.80 pence on Jan. 16, edging up 0.05 pence from the previous close. The stock fluctuated between 100.40 and 101.45 pence during the session. Trading volume hit 106.6 million shares, per Yahoo Finance data. 2
Share buybacks reduce the number of shares outstanding, which can boost earnings per share even when growth stalls. But they don’t solve issues like pricing pressure or weak demand. When underlying operations falter, the market usually takes back any gains from buybacks.
When London trading kicks off on Monday, all eyes will be on whether Vodafone holds firm above the key £1 mark. In cases like this, trading flows often outweigh the headlines, particularly with a consistent corporate buyer active in the market.
Vodafone’s Q3 FY26 trading update is set for Feb. 5, per the company’s financial calendar. That day also marks the interim dividend payment. 3
The downside is clear: if the Feb. 5 update reveals softer service trends or rising costs eating into expected cash flow, the buyback won’t keep sellers at bay for long. A quiet tape can quickly turn volatile once guidance is challenged.
