0812 GMT - Analysts are nervous about Imperial Brands' apparent market-share loss seen in the fiscal first half, RBC Capital Markets' James Edwardes Jones and Wassachon Udomsilpa say. The tobacco company expects to report a modest decline in market share across its five priority markets. This contrasts with a flat market share in fiscal 2025, and an increase of more than 48 basis points over the past five years, the analysts say. Furthermore, it gives no indication of the likely market share in the second half of the fiscal year, RBC says. "We regard this latter point as having been fundamental to Imperial's rehabilitation, and therefore are nervous about the loss of share in the latest six months," the analysts say. Shares are down 6% at 2,896 pence.(anthony.orunagoriainoff@dowjones.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 14, 2026 04:13 ET (08:13 GMT)

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