MTN Executive buys N40.9m shares as strong earnings boost stock

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has disclosed that its Senior Manager, Financial Operations, Olugbenga Ojeranti, purchased 81,327 shares of the company valued at N40.9 million, reinforcing growing insider confidence in the telecoms giant following its strong financial rebound in 2025.

The shares were acquired at an average price of N504 and form part of a series of insider transactions reported by MTN after the release of its financial results in late October 2025.

Market observers say the combination of improved earnings and insider buying has helped boost investor sentiment, with MTN’s share price rising to N550 as of mid-session trading on January 9, 2026.

According to regulatory disclosures, Ojeranti purchased the shares in two tranches between December 15 and 30, 2025. He acquired 66,327 units at N503 per share and an additional 15,000 units at N505.

His purchase follows similar moves by other members of MTN’s leadership.

Non-executive director Andrew Alli acquired 93,220 shares on December 4, while Kolapo Olaleye, General Manager, Financial Planning, had earlier purchased 23,000 shares. All the transactions were disclosed in line with market regulations governing insider dealings.

Analysts note that insider purchases, particularly after the release of financial results, are often interpreted by the market as a vote of confidence in a company’s outlook and governance.

MTN shares have continued their upward trajectory in early 2026, trading as high as N550 and posting a month-to-date gain of 7.63 per cent. The stock closed 2025 at N511, capping a remarkable rally from N200 at the start of the year and delivering a 155 per cent return to investors.

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Trading activity also surged in 2025, with about 806 million MTN shares changing hands, the highest volume recorded since 2020, reflecting renewed investor interest in the stock.

The strong share price performance has been underpinned by MTN Nigeria’s dramatic financial turnaround in 2025. The company reported a pre-tax profit of N1.12 trillion for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, reversing the N713.6 billion loss recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.

In the third quarter of 2025 alone, MTN posted a pre-tax profit of N504.2 billion, a sharp increase from N37.7 billion in Q3 2024 and one of the company’s strongest quarterly performances in years.

Total revenue for the nine-month period rose to N3.73 trillion, driven largely by data services, which generated N1.97 trillion—up 73 per cent year-on-year and accounting for more than half of total revenue. Voice services also recorded robust growth, rising 48 per cent year-on-year to N1.19 trillion.

The gains were supported by increasing smartphone penetration, higher data consumption and the continued expansion of MTN’s fintech operations, which analysts believe could provide additional upside in the medium term.

Market watchers say the recent insider share purchases, combined with the company’s earnings recovery and dividend resumption, suggest that management is positioning for further growth in 2026.