Helios Towers PLC (LSE:HTWS) shares jumped 15% to 178.6p on Thursday after the Africa- and Middle East-focused telecoms infrastructure group unveiled a new five-year plan that promises both strong growth and substantial investor payouts.
Launching its 'IMPACT 2030' strategy at a capital markets day in London, the company said it aims to deliver more than $1.3 billion in cumulative recurring free cash flow between 2026 and 2030, supported by over 9% compound annual growth in adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA).
The plan marks a shift from expansion to a balance of growth and capital returns.
Helios will allocate around $500 million in discretionary capital expenditure to drive new site builds and tenancy growth, targeting more than 42,000 total tenancies and a tenancy ratio above 2.5 times by 2030. The company expects this to lift returns on invested capital to 15–20%.
Investors will also see direct benefits. The group plans more than $400 million in shareholder distributions through 2030, including $250 million in share buybacks and $150 million in dividends.
An initial $75 million buyback begins immediately, with a $25 million annual dividend due from 2026, rising at more than 10% a year.
Chief executive Tom Greenwood said the new strategy builds on “a decade of uninterrupted growth and outperformance” and represents the “sweet spot” of Helios’s development, combining disciplined capital allocation with “sector-leading, cash-compounding growth.”