Airtel Africa has declared an interim dividend of USD 0.03 per share (equivalent to N43.68, based on an exchange rate of N1,456.00/USD) as part of its impressive half-year (H1 2026) financial results.
The dividend represents a 1.9% yield at the company’s last trading price of N2,310.50 per share on October 28, 2025. According to its filing with the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on November 3, 2025, shareholders will have the option to receive payment in US Dollars, British Pounds Sterling, or Naira, with the payout scheduled for December 12, 2025. The register of shareholders closes on November 7, 2025.
Strong Half-Year Performance
Airtel Africa’s H1 2026 results showed remarkable year-on-year growth across major financial metrics.
- Revenue: USD 2.98 billion (+29.1% YoY)
- EBITDA: USD 1.45 billion (+33.2%), margin at 49.0%
- Operating Profit: USD 959 million (+35.9%)
- Profit Before Tax: USD 383.17 million (+268.6% YoY)
- Profit After Tax: USD 219.32 million (+352.8% YoY)
- Earnings Per Share (EPS): USD 0.08 (9.08x YoY growth)
- Operating Cash Flow: USD 1.13 billion (+46.5%)
- Net Debt: USD 5.5 billion (improved leverage from 2.3x to 2.1x)
- Capex: USD 318 million (flat YoY)
The company’s strong profit growth was driven by surging data and mobile money revenues, alongside a 51% reduction in finance costs.
Revenue Breakdown
Airtel Africa recorded double-digit revenue growth across all its business segments:
- Voice: +17.2% YoY
- Data: +40.7% YoY
- Mobile Money: +36.5% YoY
- Other Services: +12.8% YoY
The data segment accounted for 39.1% of total revenue, boosted by an 18.4% increase in subscribers, higher data usage per user, and rising smartphone penetration.
Regional Growth
The company’s regional performance remained strong across its three major markets:
- Nigeria: Revenue surged 56.3% YoY, led by data (+71.7%) and voice (+38.7%) growth, driven by increased usage and tariff adjustments.
- East Africa: Revenue rose 19.1% YoY, with growth in data (+22.7%) and voice (+19.2%).
- Francophone Africa: Revenue increased 17.7% YoY, supported by a 39.5% rise in data services.
The mobile money business continued its upward trajectory, with customer numbers increasing 20% YoY to 49.8 million and transaction volumes up 42.9% to USD 48.3 billion.
Analyst Outlook
Market analysts at Cordros Capital noted that Airtel Africa’s sustained expansion in its subscriber base, coupled with increased data usage and improved cost management, positions it for continued growth. The firm’s mobile money segment is expected to remain a key driver of future revenue.
Airtel Africa’s steady reduction in finance costs also reinforces its status as one of Africa’s leading telecom operators, combining strong profitability with operational efficiency.
