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Imperial Brands ( (GB:IMB) ) has shared an announcement.
Imperial Brands has continued its capital return strategy by buying back and cancelling 123,620 ordinary shares on 18 May 2026 as part of its £1.45 billion share repurchase programme. The shares, purchased via Barclays Capital Securities at an average price of 2,884.9014 pence, will reduce the company’s share count to 775,774,979, a move that may enhance earnings per share and adjust major investors’ disclosure thresholds.
The reduced number of shares in issue provides a new denominator for shareholders and other parties monitoring their notifiable interests under the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. By tightening its share base through ongoing buybacks, Imperial Brands is reinforcing its focus on shareholder returns and signalling confidence in its financial position and future cash generation.
The most recent analyst rating on (GB:IMB) stock is a Buy with a £3500.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Imperial Brands stock, see the GB:IMB Stock Forecast page.
Spark’s Take on IMB Stock
According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, IMB is a Outperform.
Imperial Brands scores well due to strong earnings call performance and positive technical indicators. Financial performance is stable but requires careful management of debt and cash flow. The attractive valuation further supports the stock’s potential, despite some regulatory challenges.
To see Spark’s full report on IMB stock, click here.
More about Imperial Brands
Imperial Brands is a global tobacco and nicotine products company, best known for manufacturing and selling cigarettes and other related products. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, it targets international markets and maintains a large base of ordinary shareholders, with its capital structure actively managed through share repurchase programmes.
Average Trading Volume: 2,908,949
Technical Sentiment Signal: Buy
Current Market Cap: £21.77B
Find detailed analytics on IMB stock on TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page.

