Close Menu
TechCentralTechCentral

    Subscribe to the newsletter

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube LinkedIn
    WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
    TechCentralTechCentral
    • News

      Vodacom’s Maziv deal gets makeover ahead of crucial hearing

      18 July 2025

      Takealot taps Mr D to deliver toys, pet food and future growth

      18 July 2025

      Cut electricity prices for data centres: Andile Ngcaba

      18 July 2025

      ‘Oh, Ani!’: Elon’s edgy bot stirs ethical storm

      18 July 2025

      Trump U-turn on Nvidia spurs talk of grand bargain with China

      18 July 2025
    • World

      Grok 4 arrives with bold claims and fresh controversy

      10 July 2025

      Samsung’s bet on folding phones faces major test

      10 July 2025

      Bitcoin pushes higher into record territory

      10 July 2025

      OpenAI to launch web browser in direct challenge to Google Chrome

      10 July 2025

      Cupertino vs Brussels: Apple challenges Big Tech crackdown

      7 July 2025
    • In-depth

      The 1940s visionary who imagined the Information Age

      14 July 2025

      MultiChoice is working on a wholesale overhaul of DStv

      10 July 2025

      Siemens is battling Big Tech for AI supremacy in factories

      24 June 2025

      The algorithm will sing now: why musicians should be worried about AI

      20 June 2025

      Meta bets $72-billion on AI – and investors love it

      17 June 2025
    • TCS

      TCS+ | Samsung unveils significant new safety feature for Galaxy A-series phones

      16 July 2025

      TCS+ | MVNX on the opportunities in South Africa’s booming MVNO market

      11 July 2025

      TCS | Connecting Saffas – Renier Lombard on The Lekker Network

      7 July 2025

      TechCentral Nexus S0E4: Takealot’s big Post Office jobs plan

      4 July 2025

      TCS | Tech, townships and tenacity: Spar’s plan to win with Spar2U

      3 July 2025
    • Opinion

      A smarter approach to digital transformation in ICT distribution

      15 July 2025

      In defence of equity alternatives for BEE

      30 June 2025

      E-commerce in ICT distribution: enabler or disruptor?

      30 June 2025

      South Africa pioneered drone laws a decade ago – now it must catch up

      17 June 2025

      AI and the future of ICT distribution

      16 June 2025
    • Company Hubs
      • Africa Data Centres
      • AfriGIS
      • Altron Digital Business
      • Altron Document Solutions
      • Altron Group
      • Arctic Wolf
      • AvertITD
      • Braintree
      • CallMiner
      • CambriLearn
      • CYBER1 Solutions
      • Digicloud Africa
      • Digimune
      • Domains.co.za
      • ESET
      • Euphoria Telecom
      • Incredible Business
      • iONLINE
      • Iris Network Systems
      • LSD Open
      • NEC XON
      • Network Platforms
      • Next DLP
      • Ovations
      • Paracon
      • Paratus
      • Q-KON
      • SevenC
      • SkyWire
      • Solid8 Technologies
      • Telit Cinterion
      • Tenable
      • Vertiv
      • Videri Digital
      • Wipro
      • Workday
    • Sections
      • AI and machine learning
      • Banking
      • Broadcasting and Media
      • Cloud services
      • Contact centres and CX
      • Cryptocurrencies
      • Education and skills
      • Electronics and hardware
      • Energy and sustainability
      • Enterprise software
      • Fintech
      • Information security
      • Internet and connectivity
      • Internet of Things
      • Investment
      • IT services
      • Lifestyle
      • Motoring
      • Public sector
      • Retail and e-commerce
      • Science
      • SMEs and start-ups
      • Social media
      • Talent and leadership
      • Telecoms
    • Events
    • Advertise
    TechCentralTechCentral
    Home » Investment » MTN tops R200/share for first time in seven years

    MTN tops R200/share for first time in seven years

    By Duncan McLeod2 March 2022
    Twitter LinkedIn Facebook WhatsApp Email Telegram Copy Link
    News Alerts
    WhatsApp
    MTN Group has generated enormous returns for shareholders under the leadership of Ralph Mupita

    MTN Group’s share price topped R200/share on Wednesday, the first time the JSE-listed emerging markets telecommunications giant has touched these levels in nearly seven years.

    The shares touched a six-and-a-half year high of R208.33 in late morning trading and were last changing hands at R207 apiece. They’re also now not far away from their all-time of just north of R260/share.

    The rally in the value of MTN shares over the past 18 months has been nothing short of phenomenal. Since their low point below R35/share in March 2020 – when investors were panicked about the impact of Covid-19 and plans to put the country into a hard lockdown – the shares have moved relentlessly northward.

    The share price surge has also pushed MTN’s market capitalisation up significantly

    In fact, an investment in MTN when the shares were at their lowest point just two years ago would have returned an investor with good timing more than 500% in share value alone. Put another way, a R100 000 investment in MTN then would be worth more than R600 000 now. That almost (but not quite) outperforms an investment in bitcoin over the same period.

    The share price surge has also pushed MTN’s market capitalisation up significantly. Market cap, calculated by multiplying the number of shares in issue by the share price, was at R388-billion on Wednesday afternoon, according to Google Finance data. That puts it far ahead of rival Vodacom Group, with a market valuation of R276-billion. Telkom’s market cap is R22-billion, though the company only operates in South Africa and is a distant third player behind Vodacom and MTN in the local mobile market.

    Over the past year (to Tuesday’s close), MTN shares have appreciated by 162.6%, while Vodacom has climbed by 18.9% and Telkom has declined by 0.5%. Over a five-year time horizon, MTN has climbed by 56%, while Vodacom has eked out a 1.5% return and Telkom has slumped by 38%.

    Various factors

    MTN’s share price is being driven higher by various factors, including a reduction in debt at the holding company level, investor faith in the management team led by group CEO Ralph Mupita, strong performances in its key markets, especially Nigeria, and its strategy to exit risky markets. The surging oil price is also seen benefiting the oil-rich Nigerian economy — and, in turn, MTN. This includes a plan to get out of the Middle East and a decision not to bid for an operating licence in Ethiopia, which has been troubled by unrest and which would have cost billions of rand in start-up capital, crimping future dividends.

    Also helping the performance is the group’s plan to spin off its fintech and fibre assets into separate businesses and its recent decision to sell some of its South African tower portfolio to IHS Holdings for R6.4-billion.

    MTN Group is expected to publish its annual results for the period ended 31 December 2021 on Wednesday, 9 March 2022.  — (c) 2022 NewsCentral Media



    MTN MTN Nigeria Ralph Mupita Telkom Vodacom
    Subscribe to TechCentral Subscribe to TechCentral
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email Copy Link
    Previous ArticleR132-billion South African Cop26 finance not for EVs: official
    Next Article Russia’s RT is no longer available on DStv

    Related Posts

    Vodacom’s Maziv deal gets makeover ahead of crucial hearing

    18 July 2025

    Mobile money lifts Africa savings to decade high

    17 July 2025

    MTN Group appoints new chief enterprise officer

    16 July 2025
    Company News

    Vertiv to acquire custom rack solutions manufacturer

    18 July 2025

    SA businesses embrace gen AI – but strategy and skills are lagging

    17 July 2025

    Ransomware in South Africa: the human factor behind the growing crisis

    16 July 2025
    Opinion

    A smarter approach to digital transformation in ICT distribution

    15 July 2025

    In defence of equity alternatives for BEE

    30 June 2025

    E-commerce in ICT distribution: enabler or disruptor?

    30 June 2025

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    © 2009 - 2025 NewsCentral Media

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.