Royal Dutch Shell PLC (A)RDS.ACOMMENTMar 13, 2017Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Jan 28, 2022. Market Open.
Just reported their highest-ever profit of under $40 billion. Pays a 3.5% dividend that should grow 8-10% annually in share buybacks. Shares have been outperforming the MSCI world since late 2020. Oil demand continues to outstrip supply. Announced share buybacks and a dividend hike.
The motivation over the last little while was when they bought DG Group, which was mostly LNG. The CEO expected peak demand would be in 2025, but has now moved it out 2030, where we will have more than enough oil and renewable energy which will keep the price of oil fairly low. They are using borrowed money to pay for the dividend. What they sold in the oil sands is going to go towards paying down debt so that they can get the dividend payout ratio down lower. Their future focus is going to be on natural gas. LNG and biofuels. He wouldn’t have any issue with somebody buying this, but be aware that if they don’t get asset sales for paying down the debt, they may have to cut the dividend at some point.