Shell (NYSE:SHEL) Sets New 12-Month High – Time to Buy?

Shell PLC Unsponsored ADR (NYSE:SHEL)’s stock price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $85.41 and last traded at $85.23, with a volume of 2447265 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $84.70.

Key Headlines Impacting Shell

Here are the key news stories impacting Shell this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Shell is close to deals to resume large oil production activity in Venezuela, a potentially material long‑term source of barrels and reserves if negotiations complete and sanctions/conditions permit production to scale. Exclusive: Chevron, Shell closing in on first big oil production deals in Venezuela since US captured Maduro
• Positive Sentiment: Shell agreed to sell Jiffy Lube and Premium Velocity to Monomoy Capital for $1.3B — a sale of non‑core retail/franchising assets that furthers CEO Wael Sawan’s strategy to redeploy capital to higher‑return oil & gas projects and shareholder returns. Shell to offload Jiffy Lube, Premium Velocity to Monomoy Capital for $1.3 billion
• Positive Sentiment: Shell continued active share buybacks (multiple purchases on 9–10 Mar as part of the announced programme), reducing share count and supporting EPS and the share price. Transaction in Own Shares
• Positive Sentiment: LNG Canada, a Shell‑led venture, has ramped exports to Asia amid tighter global gas supply dynamics, supporting near‑term cash flow for Shell’s LNG exposure. LNG Canada ramps output as Iran war threatens global gas supplies
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support is increasing — JPMorgan (and others) recently raised price targets on Shell, signaling buy‑side confidence in the company’s strategy and valuation. JPMorgan Lifts PT on Shell plc (SHEL)
• Positive Sentiment: Short interest fell in February (about a 12.5% drop), reducing immediate bearish pressure and lowering the risk of short‑squeeze volatility against the shares.
• Neutral Sentiment: A high‑profile lawsuit involving a media executive named Jeff Shell (unrelated to Shell plc) is circulating in the press; it is not connected to Shell plc’s operations. Paramount’s Jeff Shell Accused in Lawsuit of Leaking UFC, WBD Info
• Negative Sentiment: Broader market weakness (FTSE 100 pullback) and recent profit‑taking in cyclical names can drag Shell’s stock even when company‑specific news is constructive; coupled with a recent quarterly earnings miss, investors may be cautious near term. FTSE 100 Index today: BP, Shell shares jump as most constituents slump

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages recently issued reports on SHEL. Bank of America cut Shell from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, December 5th. Piper Sandler lowered their target price on Shell from $93.00 to $89.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 6th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Shell in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. UBS Group downgraded Shell from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of Shell from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, December 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $81.33.

Shell Price Performance

The firm has a market cap of $241.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.17, a PEG ratio of 6.21 and a beta of 0.14. The company has a current ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $77.25 and a 200-day simple moving average of $74.69.

Shell (NYSE:SHEL) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 5th. The energy company reported $0.57 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.21 by ($0.64). Shell had a return on equity of 10.34% and a net margin of 6.52%.The company had revenue of $64.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $65.82 billion. As a group, analysts forecast that Shell PLC Unsponsored ADR will post 7.67 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC acquired a new stake in Shell in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Shell during the third quarter worth $31,000. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Shell in the 3rd quarter worth $34,000. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT grew its stake in Shell by 186.7% during the 4th quarter. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT now owns 473 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 308 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ares Financial Consulting LLC acquired a new position in Shell during the 4th quarter valued at about $38,000. Institutional investors own 28.60% of the company’s stock.

Shell Company Profile

Shell plc (NYSE: SHEL) is a global integrated energy company that operates across the full oil and gas value chain as well as in developing lower-carbon energy solutions. The company traces its roots to the early 20th century merger of Royal Dutch Petroleum and Shell Transport and Trading, and today it is organized to explore for and produce hydrocarbons, process and refine them, manufacture petrochemicals, and market fuel, lubricants and related products under the Shell brand around the world.

Shell’s principal activities include upstream exploration and production of oil and natural gas, integrated gas operations including liquefied natural gas (LNG), and downstream refining, supply and marketing.