Listed companies in Singapore buy back Their own shares are rising at a pace not seen in years. In the first quarter of 2026 (1Q2026), about 50 primary-listed companies collectively repurchased shares worth about S$560 million – up sharply from S$330 million in 1Q2025 and S$232 million in 1Q2024. Three blue chip Name – Singapore Telecom Limited (SGX: Z74), Overseas-Chinese Banking Corporation (SGX:O39), and Keppel Ltd. (SGX:BN4) – accounts for about three-fifths of the total. But although buyback headlines may seem similar, the consistency of each company’s capital return story is quite different.
Overseas-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC): Dividend supported by diversification income engine
OCBC’s S$116 million in 1Q2026 buyback is part of a well-defined S$2.5 billion capital return program announced in February 2025, which will be delivered through a combination of special dividends and share buybacks by the end of FY2026. What is the basis of this generosity? Record total revenue of S$14.6 billion for FY2025. While net interest income as a margin fell 6% year-on-year (YoY)…
