Universal Robina Corp., the food arm of the Gokongwei Group, has used up about 87 percent of its P8 billion share buyback program, purchasing 72.4 million shares equivalent to about 3.4 percent of its outstanding shares.
The company had about P1.03 billion left in its buyback budget following its latest purchase on August 20, 2026.
URC’s board originally approved a P3 billion share buyback program on July 30, 2021. A year later, on July 29, 2022, the board approved an additional P5 billion, bringing the total authorization to P8 billion.
A year after the buyback budget was expanded, URC shares climbed to around P144 in July 2023. But the rally did not last. The stock has since steadily slid, closing at P63.30 on August 20, 2026—less than half its 2023 level.
The decline means URC’s share price has fallen sharply even as the company has continued buying back its own stock.
Share buybacks allow companies to purchase their own shares from the market, often as a way of returning cash to shareholders. They can also reduce the number of shares in circulation, potentially increasing the ownership stake represented by each remaining share.
URC’s latest figures show that the company has deployed most of the funds authorized for the program, with roughly 13 percent of the budget still available.
The buyback gives URC another tool to manage its capital and support shareholder value, although buying shares alone cannot guarantee a higher stock price.
For investors, the remaining P1.03 billion provides URC with additional room to continue buying shares. At the same time, the stock’s steep decline since 2023 raises a bigger question: whether continued buybacks can eventually help reverse the market’s bearish view of the company.
