London, January 6, 2026, 08:36 GMT — Regular session
- Vodafone shares rose about 1.1% early Tuesday, trading back above the 100p level.
- The group said it bought 11.19 million shares on Jan. 5 under its ongoing buyback programme.
- Investors are now looking to Feb. 5 for Vodafone’s Q3 trading update and its interim dividend payment.
Vodafone (VOD.L) shares rose about 1.1% to 100.85 pence by 0837 GMT, hovering near the day’s high after the telecoms group disclosed fresh share repurchases.
The buyback matters because Vodafone’s stock has pushed back above 100p, a round-number level traders often treat as a near-term line in the sand. With the company returning cash while still working through operational pressure points, investors are watching whether the share price can hold its gains into the next trading update.
It also lands with a tight catalyst calendar ahead. Vodafone’s next quarterly trading update is due on February 5, the same day the company is scheduled to pay its interim dividend, keeping attention on cash generation and near-term momentum.
Vodafone said it purchased 11,188,516 ordinary shares on January 5 from Merrill Lynch International under the programme it set up in November. It paid a volume-weighted average price (VWAP) — an average that weights each trade by the number of shares — of 99.70 pence, with prices ranging from 98.06 pence to 100.90 pence.
The company said it intends to hold the shares in treasury, meaning the stock sits on Vodafone’s balance sheet rather than trading in the market. After the purchase, Vodafone said it held 1,397,270,382 shares in treasury and had 23,480,690,375 shares in issue, excluding treasury stock.
On the tape, the shares traded in a 99.98 to 101.10 pence range early Tuesday, leaving the market to test whether buyers defend the 100p area or fade rallies back toward last session’s close.
The next major company catalyst is Vodafone’s Q3 FY26 trading update on February 5, followed by its full-year results on May 12, according to its financial calendar.
On shareholder returns, Vodafone’s website lists an interim dividend of 2.25 euro cents per ordinary share for FY26, with payment set for February 5. The company said the foreign-exchange rate used to translate that euro payout will be determined on January 29.
But the run-up leaves less room for disappointment if trading trends wobble in key markets. UBS said investors may be underplaying risks including intensifying fibre competition in German apartment blocks — often referred to as multi-dwelling units — and potential cost pressure tied to Vodafone’s OXG fibre joint venture.
