In the first eight months of 2026, more than 70 primary-listed companies on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) collectively repurchased shares worth S$2.09b. This marks a significant increase from S$1.57b in the same period of 2025 and S$855m in 2024. Companies often engage in buybacks to enhance financial metrics such as Earnings per Share (EPS) and Return on Equity (ROE), or to capitalise on perceived undervaluation.
Singtel emerged as the frontrunner, accounting for S$948.6m, or approximately 45% of the total buyback value in 2026. The company is executing a S$2b Value Realisation Share Buyback programme, which is expected to permanently increase its EPS by 3% and support a higher trajectory for both EPS and Dividends Per Share (DPS).
Seatrium also made notable strides, repurchasing S$8m worth of shares in August under its S$100m Share Buyback Programme. As of 1 September, Seatrium’s cumulative buybacks reached approximately S$99.7m since the programme’s launch in 2024.
SHS Holdings returned S$4.6m to shareholders through an off-market equal access share buyback offer, acquiring 27.04m shares. Despite a 259% surge in revenue to S$174m in the first half of 2026, SHS Holdings reported a net loss of S$3.3m due to rising costs.
The increased buyback activity underscores the strategic importance of share repurchases as a tool for capital management and shareholder value enhancement. As companies continue to deploy surplus capital, this trend is likely to persist, potentially influencing market dynamics and investor sentiment.
