Wipro has set June 5 as the record date to identify equity shareholders entitled to participate in its ₹15,000-crore buyback, according to a regulatory filing. The IT major aims to return excess cash to shareholders amid increasing pressure within the industry to bolster investments in artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and acquisitions.
In April, Wipro’s board approved the ₹15,000-crore buyback at ₹250 per share, targeting up to 60 crore shares, which represents 5.7% of the company’s total paid-up equity capital. This initiative marks Wipro’s largest buyback to date, surpassing the ₹12,000-crore buyback announced in June 2023, when the company proposed repurchasing up to 26.96 crore shares at ₹445 per share, amounting to 4.91% of its paid-up equity capital.
During the Q4 earnings call, Chief Financial Officer Aparna Iyer stated, “We are returning excess cash on our balance sheet. The available net cash can support all our M&A ambitions and investments for our recent large and strategic deals. We are making sure we have enough for our investments in our newly formed Wipro Intelligence Platform units. This is the return of excess cash that was due to the shareholders. We believe this is a good use of cash since we have a good war chest to support our ambitions. We continue to generate 112% of our net income as operating cash flows.”
Meanwhile, in September 2025, Infosys’ board approved its largest-ever share buyback valued at ₹18,000 crore, proposing to repurchase up to 10 crore shares at ₹1,800 each. This buyback accounted for approximately 2.41% of the company’s existing total paid-up equity share capital on a standalone basis.
Tushar Badjate, Director of Badjate Stock Shares, noted that Wipro’s ₹15,000 crore buyback highlights its confidence in its balance sheet and future outlook. He added that, while the IT sector is entering a significant AI investment cycle, the decision raises broader questions about capital allocation. “Investors would want to see a balanced approach between rewarding shareholders and investing aggressively in AI capabilities, acquisitions and execution,” he remarked. He emphasized that Wipro is in a strong cash position, and attention should now focus on how effectively it can turn its AI strategy into revenue growth and enhanced balance sheet strength in the coming quarters.
Pareekh Jain, Founder and CEO of EIIR Trend, pointed out that Wipro has substantial cash reserves available for either acquisitions and AI investments or shareholder returns. He stated, “With IT stocks under pressure this year, buybacks are a way to reward shareholders and support investor sentiment by improving earnings per share through a reduction in outstanding shares.”
In recent years, Wipro has engaged in a number of capability-driven acquisitions, including the $375 million purchase of HARMAN’s Digital Transformation Solutions (DTS) business in 2025 and the $375 million acquisition of Olam Group’s IT services unit Mindsprint in April.
Jain also noted, “Given subdued market conditions, this is seen as an appropriate time for buybacks, particularly for companies that are not pursuing aggressive acquisitions. Typically, firms balance shareholder returns through three routes — acquisitions that drive growth, dividends, or buybacks. The trade-off is that reducing cash reserves through buybacks could limit flexibility for future acquisitions and expansion opportunities.”
Wipro’s shares closed at ₹203.10 today, rising 1.65% on the BSE.
Published on May 22, 2026.
