Sydney, Feb 24, 2026, 18:42 AEDT — Market’s done for the day.
- Aurizon finished the day 1.2% higher at A$4.09, landing close to the upper end of its recent range.
- Aurizon repurchased roughly 3.0 million shares for A$12.3 million on Tuesday, according to the filing.
- The interim payout’s ex-dividend date lands on March 2, drawing investor attention.
Aurizon Holdings Ltd shares finished Tuesday on a firmer note, edging up as the broader market treaded water. The rail freight operator had revealed yet another round of on-market buybacks.
Aurizon snapped up 3,015,622 of its own shares on Feb. 24, spending A$12.32 million at prices ranging from A$4.02 to A$4.10, according to a filing. That brings the total buyback to 50,712,645 shares, with roughly A$183.21 million deployed since the program kicked off, the company disclosed. (Afr)
Why it’s grabbing attention: the buyback lands right in the middle of a dividend window—something that tends to spark short-term moves, particularly among income funds watching ex-dividend dates closely.
Aurizon announced an interim dividend of 12.5 Australian cents per share, 90% franked, with shares set to trade ex-dividend on March 2. Payment is scheduled for March 25. The franking credits mean shareholders get a tax offset for the company tax already paid in Australia. (Afr)
Aurizon finished the session at A$4.09, with shares fluctuating from A$4.02 up to A$4.10. That puts the stock right at the upper boundary of its 52-week range. (Investing)
Aurizon’s buyback forms part of a wider capital returns plan, first flagged with the company’s half-year results on Feb. 16. That’s when Aurizon boosted its payout ratio and lifted the buyback ceiling to as much as A$250 million. “Retain 100% ownership of Network,” was the conclusion after a review of the network unit, according to managing director and CEO Andrew Harding, who called it the choice that “best delivers long-term value for our shareholders.” (Afr)
The Feb. 16 update threw new attention on Central Queensland Coal Network rules. Aurizon flagged that its draft 10-year UT5+ proposal still needs the green light from the Queensland Competition Authority—a process investors follow closely, since it can dictate what revenue is permitted.
The S&P/ASX 200 closed nearly flat Tuesday, energy and lithium names squeezing out modest gains while other sectors sagged, a local market wrap showed. (Marketindex)
Aurizon’s buyback isn’t set in stone—the company can dial back or pause its purchases if it chooses. The shares often lose ground once they go ex-dividend, since the payout comes out of the price. Any slump in coal volumes, or a setback on network regulation, would pile on extra pressure.
