London, February 15, 2026, 14:05 GMT — Market closed.
- Imperial Brands finished Friday at 3,288p, ticking up 0.12%.
- The stock’s ex-dividend date lands on Feb. 19, with a 40.08p final payout set for March 31.
- Fresh UK plans to crack down on vaping rules are on traders’ radar as they await the next company update.
Imperial Brands PLC (IMB.L) edged up 0.12% on Friday, closing at 3,288 pence. Shares ranged from 3,248p to 3,297p during the session. (Investing)
London markets being closed on Sunday throws a wrench into income investors’ plans. Imperial’s final payout lands at 40.08 pence per share, per its results filing, with shares going ex-dividend on Feb. 19 and payment scheduled for March 31. (RNS PDF)
Dividend stocks have picked up interest as traders bet on possible rate cuts—even with the uncertainty in the outlook. Britain’s FTSE 100 climbed 0.4% on Friday, with markets assigning better-than-even chances to a Bank of England cut in March. Still, BoE Chief Economist Huw Pill cautioned that underlying inflation is hanging near 2.5%, adding that rates need to stay “restrictive until disinflation is firmly secured.” (Reuters)
Imperial’s final dividend got the nod from shareholders back at the group’s annual meeting in late January, according to an exchange notice. (Investegate)
Regulation is shifting, too. The UK government is looking to outlaw vaping in cars with under-18s present in England, part of a broader push to tighten rules near locations like playgrounds and schools. The measures are attached to its Tobacco and Vapes Bill, with a public consultation window open until May 8. (The Guardian)
Friday saw peers split directions. British American Tobacco slipped 1.14% to 4,354p, making Imperial’s modest gain stand out as more of an isolated move than any sector-wide uptick. (Investing)
Imperial is putting its weight behind capital returns, too. The company put out word of a £1.45 billion share buyback for fiscal 2026, targeting completion by Oct. 28, 2026. (Imperial Brand Plc Corporate Site)
This week isn’t a simple carry play. Typically, the stock price slips by about the dividend on the ex-dividend date. A sudden risk-off mood or a surprise tightening in nicotine regulations can easily overwhelm that routine adjustment, leaving late entrants empty-handed — missing both the dividend and price stability.
Eyes now turn to Feb. 19 for the ex-dividend date. After that, Imperial’s trading update lands April 14, followed by half-year results on May 12—both watched for any hints on volumes, pricing, and cash returns. (Imperial Brand Plc Corporate Site)
