1234 GMT - Imperial Brands' recently appointed CEO Lukas Paravicini and CFO Murray McGowan start their tenures at an advantage thanks to a 1.45 billion-pound share buyback and an increased dividend, AJ Bell's Russ Mould says. This caps off a five-year turnaround program launched by Paravicini's predecessor Stefan Bomhard, when he took the reins in 2020, Mould says. The U.K. tobacco company's efficiency measures, strategic market-share gains and pricing power has kept it cash generative, he says. Shares in Imperial Brands trade near their highest point in seven years after the company's year-end update, baffling the bearish sentiment surrounding its industry, Mould says. Shares rise 2.8% to 30.85 pounds and have risen 21% year to date. (aimee.look@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 07, 2025 08:34 ET (12:34 GMT)

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