Sydney, Feb 25, 2026, 17:47 AEDT — Market has closed.
- Telstra slipped after trading ex-dividend, losing the rights to its next payout.
- ASX filings show the company kept up its on-market buyback.
- Attention shifts to the dividend record date, with investors also watching for any fresh details on the buyback.
Telstra Group (TLS) dropped 3.2% to A$5.08 on Wednesday, trailing the broader market’s upward move as the shares began trading ex-dividend.
Telstra has begun trading ex-dividend, meaning investors no longer qualify for its interim payout; the record date lands this Thursday, per the company’s investor calendar. That schedule often sparks quick shifts as yield-focused funds adjust their holdings.
The S&P/ASX 200 ended the session 1.17% higher at 9,128.3, its strongest close on record. Results-fueled buying took the spotlight, while defensives like Telstra were largely sidelined.
Telstra scooped up 1,558,128 shares in its daily buy-back, spending roughly A$7.94 million. Prices ranged from A$5.07 to A$5.13 per share. According to the filing, Telstra retains the right to halt or end the buy-back whenever it chooses.
Telstra’s board announced an interim dividend of 10.5 Australian cents per share last week, with 90.5% of that franked. The payout lands March 27. Franking credits, which are tied to certain Australian dividends, can boost after-tax returns for investors who qualify.
The stock’s ex-dividend decline overshot the payout itself—highlighting that dividends aren’t a guaranteed support for share prices. Some traders chalked it up to profit-taking coming on the heels of last week’s rally.
When Telstra released its first-half numbers, the company bumped up its on-market buyback to A$1.25 billion and narrowed its full-year earnings guidance. Dividend plans were updated as well.
TPG Telecom wrapped up the session almost flat, finishing at A$3.91.
In the short run, it’s simple enough—dividend flows step back, and attention shifts back to buybacks. Now, it comes down to how much stock the company’s willing to repurchase, and at what price they stop pushing.
Telstra’s management is sticking to its full-year EBITDA after lease amortisation forecast, set between A$8.2 billion and A$8.4 billion. Investors aren’t likely to let up on that range, especially with mobile competition and pricing pressures front and center.
The key dates coming up: Feb. 26 is the cut-off for the interim dividend record, followed by a Feb. 27 deadline for investors opting into the dividend reinvestment plan. Payouts are due to land in accounts on March 27.
