Rolls-Royce stock: company accelerates its buyback

Rolls-Royce reaffirmed its 2026 outlook and announced an interim share buyback on Thursday, November 12. In its trading update, the company said it expects underlying operating profit of GBP 4.7 billion to GBP 4.9 billion and free cash flow of GBP 3.8 billion to GBP 4.0 billion for 2026.

The new GBP 1.5 billion repurchase is scheduled for completion by the full-year results on February 25, 2027. It forms part of Rolls-Royce's existing GBP 7 billion to GBP 9 billion buyback programme for 2026 to 2028, rather than increasing the total programme. The group said it had substantially completed its previously announced GBP 2.5 billion buyback for 2026.

Operational progress supports guidance

Large-engine flying hours rose 4% year on year in the first ten months of 2026 to 114% of 2019 levels. Rolls-Royce expects full-year flying hours toward the lower end of its existing 115% to 120% range.

The civil aerospace order backlog reached around 2,500 engines. In Power Systems, order intake increased 62% in the first nine months, while the order backlog reached a record GBP 8.6 billion at the end of September. Management said demand remained strong across civil aerospace, defence and power generation.

Share price and investor context

Rolls-Royce stock traded at 16.22 euros on Lang & Schwarz at 17:43 CET on Friday, November 13, 0.06 percent above the Xetra close of 16.21 euros from Friday, November 13. Compared with the 16.56-euro quote in the morning report dated November 13, the price was 2.05 percent lower.

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