European telcos raise payouts as earnings improve in Q3

European telecom companies are raising shareholder payouts and nudging up forecast as stronger cash generation from network investments, cost cuts and consolidation begins to feed through to results.

Germany’s Deutsche Telekom raised its full-year earnings outlook for the third time this year on Thursday, after quarterly earnings beat analyst expectations. It also proposed a 10% dividend increase and announced plans for a share buyback of up to €2 billion ($2.25 billion) in 2027.