Royal Dutch Shell PLC (A)

RDS.A-N

OPEC has just extended oil cuts. They've restructured their business due to the plunge in oil prices. They want to be an energy, not oil, company, so they own a lot of gas, shale and alternative/green energy. Expect long-term growth in the latter. They have diversified and will become a different company. They are not pure oil.

(A Top Pick May 07/18, Down 1%) They benefit from higher oil prices right now. Pays a solid yield of 5.5%. Cash flows are growing. Surprisingly, RDS is one of the largest investors in renewable energy which will well-position them in the decades to come.

It's more weighted to oil, and pays a strong 6% yield. He is light in oil producers now, only 3-5% of his holdings. He doesn't know RDS that well. Oil overall is in decline; there's a perfect storm in oil (Venezuela) and yet oil is not surging higher. RDS itself is a reasonably good company. If you are bullish oil, hold and wait.

Buy class A or B? RDS will collapse both classes into one and move out of Europe. The A shares are subject to Dutch tax, and the B shares to UK tax. That's why they're priced differently. You can buy either class. They have a strong balance sheet and are global leaders in natural gas. Long-term, they are positioning away from carbon/fossil fuels and into renewables for the future.

Seasonality differs from broader energy. Optimal time to hold is March - July. Has had stellar Y/Y revenue growth. He's bullish on oil, so expects this to do well. Has rolled over a bit, but you can pick out a momentum divergence. Looks as though we're on a trend of higher highs, higher lows. Support coming in at $62. Good time to buy.

The dividend is certainly safe. You are better to be in the next tier down. They are the targets for acquisition. Things are on sale in the oil patch. There is nothing wrong with the big integrateds, but he prefers the next level down.

Big announcement this week--US is imposing sanctions on Iran which will reduce oil supply. This was always going to happen. Oil prices will rise to $70. Meanwhile, all the European oil majors will make money and do more development. RDS has a fine dividend that's safe.

Class A or B? A shares are more liquid, and tax considerations aren't much different. You can buy either, whatever is cheaper. They trade closely together. They are a big player on LNG. If you want to diversify away from Canadian oil, look here.

Buys for new clients. 6% dividend. Profitable at $50 oil. Generates so much cash flow, deleveraging balance sheet, buying back stock, and making investments.

They completed their $30 billion divestment program that allowed them to pay down debt. They are moving towards LNG. They haven't been rising dividend lately. Caution on this. The yield is attractive but if not growing is a red flag.

Not expensive and a good dividend. But like many oil companies, they've had to restructure after the oil price collapse. They made a huge purchase of British Gas and took on a lot of debt. That said, RDS can maintain its dividend. They can get good cash flow out of some of their assets in Brazil and Australia. Some of their offshore assets are working out and they can grow--but there are a lot of bumps in the road ahead.

Pays a 6.7% yield. It's international and integrated, not in Alberta where the oil is trapped without pipelines. They're bullish in LNG. They're buying back stock. There may be a small dividend increase this year. Balance sheet is much better. This is a play on oil prices that he expects will rise. They've paid down debt to their lowest level. (Analysts’ price target is $78.75)

A long-term hold? A good company though he prefers a peer. He'd buy this at current levels.

Dividend over 5%, covered by free cash flow, they make money at $50 oil. Investing in renewables. Well run company over the last 100 years, a low cost producer. Would fit into any portfolio. Less sensitive to oil prices because of other businesses.