British American Tobacco PLC
British American Tobacco PLC (BTI) announced that it executed a transaction in its own ordinary shares during the period from 11 May 2026 to 15 May 2026. The purchase was made from Merrill Lynch International and was carried out in accordance with the authority granted by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting held on 15 April 2026. The buy‑back is part of the programme that was first announced on 18 March 2024.
Share price movement
On the day the transaction was reported (18 May 2026) the company’s share price increased by 1.9 %, trading at 4,958 pence. This rise positioned BTI among the leading gains in the FTSE 100 that day, alongside IG Group Holdings PLC and Imperial Brands PLC. The upward move contributed to a generally defensive sector performance amid market risk aversion.
Market context
At the time of the report, the STOXX 50 index was trading lower, having declined 0.36 % to 5,028.97 points. The index had previously fallen from a peak of 5,047.28 points the day before and had been trading below its 52‑week high. Despite this broader market weakness, BTI’s share price moved positively, reflecting investor confidence in the company’s ongoing buy‑back strategy and its defensive sector classification.
Company fundamentals
BTI’s market capitalization stands at 140 037 338 619.9 GBX, with a price‑earnings ratio of 13.55. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and trades in British pounds (GBX). Its share price on 14 May 2026 was 4,864 pence, within a 52‑week range of 3,237 pence (low) to 5,006 pence (high).
Conclusion
The share buy‑back, executed over five consecutive trading days, represents a significant corporate action aimed at returning value to shareholders. Coupled with a positive day‑trading performance, the transaction underscores British American Tobacco’s commitment to share‑holder returns even amid broader market volatility.
