Vodafone (VOD) shares rose 5 per cent in early trading after the telecom giant said it would raise its dividend for the first time since 2018 and expects to deliver annual results at the upper end of its guidance range.
The company announced a new progressive dividend policy and anticipates a 2.5 per cent increase in payouts this year. Vodafone also confirmed it had started a 鈧500mn (拢439mn) share buyback as part of its 鈧4bn programme, which is 75 per cent complete.
Investors can now expect annual results to come in near the top of the company鈥檚 guidance for adjusted profit of 鈧11.3bn-鈧11.6bn and adjusted free cash flow of 鈧2.4bn-鈧2.6bn.
For the six months to 30 September, revenue rose 7 per cent to 鈧19.6bn as trading was boosted by a return to service revenue growth in Germany. Operating profit was down 9 per cent to 鈧2.2bn on higher depreciation and amortisation charges following the consolidation of Three UK.




