SYDNEY, March 18, 2026, 09:49 AEDT
- Telstra edged 0.2% higher on Tuesday, closing at A$5.25. The shares finished just shy of their 52-week peak at A$5.28.
- Telstra bought back 640,803 shares on March 17 for A$3.36 million, according to a filing, pushing the total buyback to roughly 144.9 million shares valued at about A$713.7 million.
- Back in February, the company bumped its buyback ceiling to A$1.25 billion and lined up a 10.5-cent interim dividend—90.48% franked—scheduled for payment on March 27.
Telstra Group closed Tuesday at A$5.25, sticking near its 52-week peak after the telecom firm logged another round of on-market buybacks in a March 17 ASX disclosure. Shares edged up roughly 0.2% for the day.
Here’s the gist: Telstra’s new filing breathes more life into its capital-return narrative. Not even a month has passed since the company bumped its programme cap up to A$1.25 billion. A buyback trims down the number of shares on the market, potentially boosting earnings per share—assuming the business keeps its growth streak.
Telstra disclosed snapping up 640,803 shares on March 17, shelling out A$3.36 million at prices between A$5.23 and A$5.25 apiece. According to its filing, total buybacks have now reached roughly 144.9 million shares, costing the company about A$713.7 million since the program kicked off.
Back in February, chief executive Vicki Brady told investors, “The on-market share buy-back is expected to support earnings and dividend per share growth.” The board, for its part, set an interim dividend at 10.5 Australian cents, 90.48% franked—so nearly all of it comes with tax credits for Australian shareholders. Payment is scheduled for March 27. Telstra.com
February’s numbers added fuel to the rally. Telstra posted a first-half profit attributable to shareholders of A$1.124 billion, a 9.4% increase. Mobile income hit A$5.77 billion, topping expectations as both customer numbers and plan prices climbed.
So far, analysts are sticking with the stock’s defensive story, despite the ongoing competitive squeeze. Telstra still dominates Australia’s three-way mobile market with Optus (owned by Singtel) and TPG Telecom in tow. eToro’s Zavier Wong, after February’s numbers, labeled it “one of the most defensive names on the ASX.” Reuters
But there’s a sticking point. Brady told reporters that Telstra and the Australian Communications and Media Authority are roughly A$1.3 billion apart when it comes to valuing spectrum renewals. The company, she said, sees pricing differently than ACMA. If spectrum costs climb higher, Brady warned, Telstra will need to make tougher choices between network spending and returns to shareholders.
Investors are watching two key dates up ahead: the March 27 dividend and how quickly shares are being bought back through June 30, when the buyback is currently slated to wrap. Telstra has left the door open to pausing or halting the program if circumstances shift, but Tuesday’s filing confirms it’s still picking up shares close to the upper end of the recent price range.
