London, Jan 17, 2026, 09:15 GMT — Market closed.
- Vodafone ended Friday at 100.80 pence, ticking up 0.05%
- The company added another chunk to its buyback, snapping up 2.9 million shares
- Attention now turns to the trading update for Feb. 5 and the interim dividend timetable
Vodafone (VOD.L) closed Friday at 100.80 pence, edging up 0.05% after moving between 100.40 and 101.40 pence during the session. The stock remains close to its 52-week peak of 104.15 pence, with London markets now closed for the weekend.
This is significant as Vodafone has increased its focus on shareholder returns amid its restructuring efforts. Buybacks often help stabilize trading during slow periods. The company has announced plans for share repurchases worth up to 2 billion euros, funded by the sale of Vodafone Spain and Vodafone Italy. It also follows a leverage policy based on net debt to EBITDA, a key ratio lenders use to assess financial health.
Vodafone disclosed in a stock exchange filing on Friday that it repurchased 2,908,415 shares on Jan. 15 via Merrill Lynch International as part of its buyback plan. The shares traded between 99.06 pence and 101.65 pence, with a volume-weighted average price of 100.98 pence. The company said these shares will be held in treasury, meaning they remain company-owned rather than held by investors.
The filing revealed Vodafone held 1,437,083,188 shares in treasury following the purchase, with 23,440,877,569 shares outstanding excluding those treasury shares.
Broker views remained split. Barclays analyst Maurice Patrick stuck with a Buy rating and held firm on a 120 pence target, as noted in a summary released Friday.
Risk is brewing beyond Europe. India’s Supreme Court delivered a landmark tax decision this week targeting Mauritius-linked investment structures. Lawyers say this could trigger tougher scrutiny on cross-border deals—a persistent headache for multinationals after years of battles. Additional Solicitor General N. Venkataraman dismissed concerns that the ruling would scare off investment as “nothing but a distraction.” Still, tax lawyer Dhruv Janssen-Sanghavi warned that investor “confidence is likely to be shaken.” Reuters
Vodafone investors will be watching the dividend timeline closely. The interim payout for the year ending March 31, 2026, stands at 2.25 euro cents per share, with the payment scheduled for Feb. 5. The company plans to set the FX rate for converting to sterling on Jan. 29, leaving the final pence-per-share and ADR figures marked as “TBC.” Also on Feb. 5, Vodafone is due to release its Q3 FY26 trading update. Vodafone
London’s market reopens Monday (Jan. 19), and trading will hinge on whether ongoing buybacks can support the shares. Fresh broker reports or macro news could also shake sentiment. The next major event is Vodafone’s Q3 FY26 trading update on Feb. 5.
