Key moments
- The company has resumed paying dividends to its shareholders after a five-year hiatus, with a payout of approximately £500 million.
- Rolls-Royce has launched a significant £1 billion share buyback program, aiming to reduce its share capital and boost shareholder value.
- The company’s stock has experienced a substantial 18% spike, reaching a new 52-week high and exceeding £7.40 per share.
The latest financial reports of Rolls-Royce, a leading British aerospace company, have sent shockwaves through the market. The company announced an operating profit of £2.46 billion, beating analyst expectations and reflecting a 55% increase from the previous year. This announcement prompted a 18% rise in its share price.
The significant increase in operating profit is a testament to the company’s robust delivery in 2023 and 2024, which has enabled it to raise its targets. Rolls-Royce expects its operating profit to increase to between £3.6 billion and £3.9 billion over the mid-term.
Rolls-Royce also announced a dividend of 6 pence per share, reinstating the payout after a five-year break. The dividend will be worth approximately £500 million and will be paid in June 2025. This move is a significant step for the company, as it demonstrates its commitment to returning value to shareholders. The dividend announcement also showcases the company’s improving financial performance and its confidence in its future prospects. Tufan Erginbilgiç, CEO of Rolls-Royce, stated that the company’s strong 2024 results built on its progress last year and that the significantly improved performance and stronger balance sheet gave the company confidence to reinstate shareholder dividends.
Alongside the dividend announcement, Rolls-Royce has initiated a £1 billion share buyback program, which will be executed throughout 2025. This initiative aims to reduce the company’s share capital and enhance shareholder value. The share buyback program is a significant investment in the company’s future, demonstrating its confidence in its growth prospects.
The news of the operating profit, dividend, and share buyback program has sent Rolls-Royce’s stock soaring, with a 18% spike in its share price. The stock has notched a new 52-week high and has hit the top of the pan-European Stoxx 600 index, exceeding £7.40 per share. This positive market reaction underscores the confidence investors have in Rolls-Royce’s ongoing transformation.