Imperial Brands Advances £1.45bn Buyback With New Share Cancellation

An update from Imperial Brands ( (GB:IMB) ) is now available.

Imperial Brands has continued executing its £1.45 billion share repurchase programme with the buyback and cancellation of 220,000 ordinary shares on 1 May 2026. The shares, purchased on-exchange through Barclays at an average price of 2,802.0454 pence, will reduce the company’s share count to 777,509,671, slightly enhancing earnings per share and altering shareholding percentages for investors subject to disclosure rules.

The transaction underscores Imperial Brands’ ongoing capital-return strategy, signalling management’s willingness to deploy significant funds to shrink the equity base. The updated share count now becomes the key reference point for shareholders and other market participants when calculating notifiable holdings under the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

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 PLC is a major international tobacco and nicotine company listed on the London Stock Exchange. The group focuses on manufacturing and selling cigarettes and other tobacco products, along with next-generation nicotine offerings, serving consumers in multiple global markets.

Average Trading Volume: 2,647,603

Technical Sentiment Signal: Buy

Current Market Cap: £21.7B

For a thorough assessment of IMB stock, go to TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page.