Investors often turn to recommendations made by Wall Street analysts before making a Buy, Sell, or Hold decision about a stock. While media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm employed (or sell-side) analysts often affect a stock's price, do they really matter?Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about Shell (SHEL) .Shell currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR ...

Investment thesis: With the first two months of 2025, namely April & May, where Europe historically expects to see a build in natural gas inventories behind us, we see a failure to close the gap relative to the average five-yearAnalyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of EQNR, SHEL either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). ...

Group 1 - Shell plc has entered into an agreement to purchase TotalEnergies' 12.5% non-operating interest in the Bonga field in Nigeria for $510 million [1][2] - The Bonga field is part of the OLM118 production sharing contract, which Shell operates with a 55% stake, while TotalEnergies and Nigerian Agip Exploration each hold a 12.5% interest [2][3] - TotalEnergies is optimizing its upstream portfolio by divesting less competitive assets and focusing on projects with lower technical costs and emissions [4] Group 2 - Shell is shifting its focus from onshore operations in Nigeria to deepwater projects, having divested its onshore subsidiary to Renaissance [5][6] - The divestment included a 30% stake in the SPDC joint venture, which is now majority-owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation [6] - The acquisition of TotalEnergies' interest aligns with Shell's strategy to concentrate on deepwater and offshore operations in Nigeria [6]

Core Insights - Shell Mobility is exiting the fuel retail market in Mexico, transferring operations to Iconn, which owns 7-Eleven and Petro Seven, involving over 200 fuel service stations and convenience stores [1][2] - The acquisition is pending regulatory approval and is expected to close by the third quarter of 2025, indicating a significant shift in Mexico's competitive energy landscape [1][6] Acquisition Details - The deal includes Shell's network of gas stations, convenience retail outlets, and a fuel import license, crucial for a country dependent on imported petroleum [2][8] - Iconn will gain control over Shell's logistics operations, enhancing its role in the energy value chain [2][3] Strategic Advantages for Iconn - Iconn will benefit from Shell's proprietary fuel technologies and customer loyalty platforms, allowing for improved retail offerings and differentiation from competitors [4][5] - The acquisition enables Iconn to introduce premium fuel options and expand digital services, enhancing operational efficiency [4][9] Market Impact - Shell's exit reflects increasing regulatory challenges in Mexico's downstream energy sector, creating a more favorable environment for local players like Iconn [6][11] - The transition may lead to more localized services and improved digital experiences for consumers [7][11] Infrastructure Value - Shell's infrastructure, including its import license and logistics systems, provides Iconn with greater control over fuel sourcing and reduces reliance on third-party suppliers [8][9] - The acquisition positions Iconn to outperform domestic competitors and set new standards in Mexico's fuel and retail sector [10][11] Conclusion - Iconn's acquisition of Shell's assets marks a pivotal moment in Mexico's energy market, allowing Iconn to innovate and lead in a vital sector [11]

行业巨头并购的蓝图已发展至2030年代的石油持续增长、市场/交易的上升空间、转型的灵活性以及更 低的加权平均资本成本等方面。收购英国石油公司能否完全实现壳牌的这些核心目标?答案似乎只是部 分达成而非完全达成。而且，按照目前的估值，小摩的模型并未显示这将使壳牌在 2030 年达到其"北极 星"目标——即每股自由现金流CAGR超过 10%。 智通财经APP获悉，最近关于壳牌(SHEL.US)与英国石油(BP.US)并购案的争论愈发激烈，摩根大通根据 预估模型和对全球超级巨头互补性的分析来评估其利弊。总的来看，小摩认为这笔交易需要更低的价格 或者更高的协同效应， 并给予壳牌"增持"评级，但给予英国石油"持股观望"评级。 英国石油与壳牌以及全球大型石油公司同行的对比。壳牌和英国石油公司的资产组合互补性处于中等而 非顶级水平，美国上游业务、天然气(贸易)以及北美和欧洲的营销业务是突出领域。然而，壳牌仅有 25% 至 30% 的油气产量位于英国石油公司 80% 产量所在的八个核心国家，反垄断方面的考虑可能成为 下游业务的限制因素。小摩还展示了英国石油公司与道达尔能源(TTE.US)、埃克森美孚(XOM.US)、雪 佛龙( ...

Core Insights - Shell plc's Indonesian affiliate is divesting its fuel retail operations to a joint venture between Citadel Pacific Limited and Sefas Group, involving around 200 gas stations and a fuel storage terminal in Gresik, with completion expected by next year [1] - Despite the divestment, Shell will continue to operate in Indonesia under brand licensing agreements, maintaining its visibility and legacy in the region [2] Citadel & Sefas Joint Venture - The joint venture combines the strengths of Citadel Pacific, a Philippine-based holding company with diverse operations including fuel marketing, and Sefas Group, Indonesia's largest Shell lubricants distributor [3] - This collaboration ensures continuity for customers and partners, leveraging a solid history of representing the Shell brand across various markets [4] Shell's Strategic Focus - Shell is shifting its focus from fuel retailing to enhancing its lubricants business in Indonesia, which is considered a key growth market [5] - The company operates a major lubricant blending plant with a capacity of up to 300 million liters annually, and a new grease manufacturing plant is under construction [5] - This strategic repositioning aims to strengthen Shell's presence in high-growth, high-margin segments, potentially improving profitability in the future [5] Company Overview - Shell is recognized as one of the primary oil supermajors, with operations spanning globally [6] - Currently, Shell holds a Zacks Rank of 5 (Strong Sell) [6] Investment Alternatives - Investors in the energy sector may consider better-ranked stocks such as Flotek Industries, Inc. (Zacks Rank 1), Global Partners LP (Zacks Rank 1), and RPC, Inc. (Zacks Rank 2) [7] - Flotek Industries is projected to have a 55.88% year-over-year earnings growth for 2025 [8] - Global Partners is expected to see a 17.84% year-over-year earnings growth for 2025 [9] - RPC is anticipated to achieve a 33.33% growth in earnings for the next quarter [10]

Group 1: LNG Market Dynamics - Shell predicts that traditional LNG exporters like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Algeria may soon become net importers due to rising domestic demand and falling production [1] - The role reversal of these countries could add up to 50 million metric tons of new LNG demand by 2040, following Egypt's recent transition to a net LNG importer [2] - Shell maintains a measured outlook on potential LNG oversupply, citing delays in project rollouts due to COVID-19, supply-chain bottlenecks, and labor shortages [3] Group 2: Demand Growth in Asia - Asia is projected to be the key demand center for LNG, with Shell forecasting a 60% increase in global LNG demand by 2040 driven by economic expansion and decarbonization efforts [4] - The rising demand in Asia is sensitive to pricing, as evidenced by a resurgence in purchases when spot prices dropped below $10 per million British Thermal Units [5] Group 3: Company Overview - Shell is recognized as one of the primary oil supermajors with a global operational footprint [6] - The company currently holds a Zacks Rank of 5 (Strong Sell) [6] Group 4: Alternative Investment Opportunities - Investors may consider better-ranked stocks in the energy sector, such as Flotek Industries (Zacks Rank 1), Global Partners (Zacks Rank 1), and RPC (Zacks Rank 2) [7] - Flotek Industries is expected to see a 55.88% year-over-year growth in 2025 earnings [8] - Global Partners is projected to achieve a 17.84% year-over-year growth in 2025 earnings [9] - RPC is estimated to have a 33.33% growth in earnings for the next quarter [10]

Core Viewpoint - BP has been experiencing poor financial performance and declining stock prices, leading to speculation about potential acquisitions by major Western oil companies, although the likelihood of such acquisitions in the short term appears low [1][3]. Financial Status - BP's market capitalization has fallen to $78.1 billion, while its total assets, excluding liabilities, exceed $280 billion [3]. - The value of BP's oil and gas assets in the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. shale regions is estimated at $82 billion, surpassing the company's overall market value [3]. - BP carries a significant debt load of $77 billion, complicating potential acquisition scenarios [3]. Acquisition Considerations - Shell is seen as a potential acquirer, but concerns about market share leading to monopoly issues and the need for asset divestitures could delay any merger [3]. - Cultural differences between Shell and BP may require years for integration post-acquisition, and potential layoffs could create political pressure on the UK government [3]. - ExxonMobil and Chevron have expressed interest in acquiring BP, but face challenges related to U.S.-EU political dynamics and operational integration due to geographical distance [4]. - TotalEnergies and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) are also mentioned as potential buyers, but TotalEnergies is currently focused on stock buybacks and may not pursue BP, while ADNOC faces similar political hurdles as U.S. companies [4].

Shell plc (SHEL) has achieved a notable legal victory as the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed a $58 million lawsuit filed by Nigerian contractor Forstech Technical Nigeria Limited against The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (“SPDC”), now operating as Renaissance Africa Energy Company.Although SHEL has a great operational strength, the rising risks related to macroeconomic conditions, geopolitical scenarios, and regulatory and legal pressure can have ...

Core Viewpoint - Shell's immersion cooling liquid has received official certification from Intel, marking it as the first globally recognized cooling liquid compatible with Intel's 4th and 5th generation processors, indicating significant application potential in data centers [2][4]. Group 1: Product Innovation - Shell's immersion cooling liquid can reduce energy consumption in data centers by up to 48% and operational costs by as much as 33% compared to traditional cooling systems [4]. - The cooling liquid, developed by Shell's laboratories, achieves heat dissipation by immersing servers in an electrically insulating liquid, boasting thermal conductivity over a thousand times greater than air cooling systems [4][1]. - The adoption of immersion cooling can reduce the physical footprint of data centers by 80% by eliminating the need for traditional cooling equipment such as fans and evaporative cooling systems [4][1]. Group 2: Market Context - Current data centers account for approximately 1.5% of global electricity demand, with energy consumption expected to surge from 415 terawatt-hours in 2024 to around 945 terawatt-hours by 2030 due to the explosive growth of artificial intelligence [6][3]. - Traditional cooling systems typically consume 30-40% of a data center's energy, highlighting the efficiency of Shell's immersion cooling solution [6][4]. Group 3: Strategic Focus - Shell is committed to investing in high-end product development for emerging sectors such as electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and data centers, aiming to assist industrial clients in achieving energy-saving and carbon reduction goals [8][1].