Even in normal times, finding a firm footing in the oil business is a slippery endeavor. UK oil major Shell posted its weakest quarterly profit in nearly half a decade on Thursday, sending its New York-listed shares down 5.3%. The drop occurred less than a week after US major Chevron reported declining profit, though that company’s shares have risen 4.7% since, thanks partly to its unique upside in Venezuela, the South American nation the Trump administration plans to “run” after deposing its president. ...

FTSE 100 Live: Shares open lower as Compass and Vodafone disappoint Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock 8.15am: FTSE opens lower as Compass and Vodafone disappoint The FTSE 100 has opened down 35 points at 10,367, led by Compass and Vodafone. Compass shares have tumbled 7.7% despite posting what it called a strong start to its new financial year. Vodafone, as noted below, reported organic service revenues below forecasts for the UK and Germany, with the shares falling 5.5% after a strong ru ...

Core Insights - Shell's adjusted earnings for the fourth quarter reached $3.26 billion, a decrease from $3.7 billion in the same period last year, and below the average analyst estimate of $3.5 billion [1] Financial Performance - The adjusted earnings of $3.26 billion represent a year-over-year decline of approximately 12% [1] - The earnings fell short of analyst expectations, indicating potential challenges in meeting market forecasts [1]

Market Overview - The stock market closed mixed, with the Dow up 0.5% (259 points), while the NASDAQ fell 1.5% [1][2] - The S&P 500 was down about 0.5%, but the equal-weighted S&P 500 index closed up nearly 1% at a record high [2][3] - Small-cap indices showed varied performance, with the Russell 2000 down 0.7% and the S&P 600 up 0.9% [3] Sector Performance - The Dow Jones transports surged over 2% for three consecutive days, totaling an 8% increase, a trend not seen since May 2025 [4] - The materials sector led gains, with gold and silver trades up over 2%, followed by energy, which also rose by 2% [5] - The technology sector was the biggest loser, down 2.82%, with significant declines in major tech stocks like AMD (down 17%) and Palantir (down 11%) [5][6] Alphabet's Q4 Earnings - Alphabet reported Q4 operating income of $35.93 billion, slightly below the expected $36.95 billion, with total revenue of $113.83 billion, exceeding the estimate of $111.4 billion [9][10] - Google Cloud revenue was reported at $17.66 billion, surpassing the estimate of $16.2 billion, indicating strong performance in that segment [10][24] - The company projected 2026 capital expenditures between $175 billion and $185 billion, significantly higher than the consensus estimate of $120 billion, leading to a drop in stock price by about 6% in after-hours trading [11][12] Qualcomm's Q1 Results - Qualcomm reported Q1 EPS of $3.50, exceeding estimates of $3.41, with revenue of $12.3 billion, also better than the expected $12.2 billion [34][35] - The outlook for Q2 revenue is projected between $10.2 billion and $11 billion, below the previous estimate of $11.18 billion, due to headwinds from memory shortages in the smartphone market [36][40] - Qualcomm is diversifying its business beyond smartphones, focusing on markets like PC chips and robotics [37][38] Investment Strategies - A neutral stance on equities is maintained, with an underweight position in U.S. stocks compared to international markets, driven by attractive valuations overseas [43][45] - The current market environment shows targeted selling primarily in technology, with a focus on quality investments outside the tech sector [47][48] - Concerns about future earnings growth and valuation in the tech sector, particularly among the Magnificent Seven, are leading to a cautious investment approach [53][56]

Wael Sawan, Shell’s chief executive, has held the position at the oil giant since 2023 - Mark R Cristino/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Shell’s chief executive is on course to become one of the best-paid executives on the London Stock Exchange as his company’s move away from green energy pays off. Wael Sawan could see his total pay packet jump by £4.5m to a maximum £19m a year under proposals drawn up by the FTSE 100 company. That would make him one of the country’s highest paid blue chip executives. Other high- ...

On costs, management said it aims for a 10% reduction in OpEx and SG&A in 2026. Reitan clarified on the call that the reported decline is significantly influenced by structural changes including the divestment of Peregrino and the establishment of Adura (which will be equity-accounted), while underlying cost development is expected to be flat despite inflation and production growth. He also said Equinor reduced renewables OpEx and SG&A by 27% in 2025, primarily by lowering early-phase costs.Equinor guided t ...

Oil markets remain hostage to Trump-driven uncertainty, as mixed signals on India’s stance toward Russian crude collide with renewed speculation around U.S.–Iran nuclear talks. Could Oil Be Back in Vogue? - 2026 was dubbed the year of oversupply, however January prices were in line with last year’s levels (ICE Brent averaged $64.7 per barrel and closed the month at $70.7 per barrel), defying gloomy demand predictions. - Trump’s erratic comments on Iran, first promising to act ‘with speed and violence’ ...

Core Viewpoint - Shell (SHEL) is expected to report quarterly earnings of $1.21 per share, a 0.8% increase year-over-year, with revenues projected at $68.09 billion, reflecting a 1.9% year-over-year increase [1]. Earnings Projections - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised 0.3% lower over the last 30 days, indicating a reevaluation by analysts [2]. - Changes in earnings projections are crucial for predicting investor reactions, as empirical studies show a strong correlation between earnings estimate trends and short-term stock price movements [3]. Key Metrics Estimates - Analysts predict the 'INTEGRATED GAS - Realised gas price' to be $6.90 per thousand scf, down from $8.10 in the same quarter last year [5]. - 'INTEGRATED GAS - LNG liquefaction volumes' are forecasted to reach 8 million tons, up from 7 million tons year-over-year [5]. - The estimated 'INTEGRATED GAS - Realised liquids price' is $55.89 per barrel, compared to $63.45 in the same quarter last year [6]. - The consensus for 'CHEMICALS & PRODUCTS - Global indicative refining margin' is $13.56 per barrel, significantly up from $5.54 in the same quarter last year [6]. - 'CHEMICALS & PRODUCTS - Refinery utilisation' is expected to be 93.0%, a notable increase from 76.0% year-over-year [7]. - 'CHEMICALS & PRODUCTS - Chemicals sales volumes' are projected at 2469 thousand tons, down from 2926 thousand tons in the same quarter last year [7]. - The estimated 'UPSTREAM - Realised liquids price' is $60.34 per barrel, compared to $70.69 in the same quarter last year [9]. Stock Performance - Over the past month, Shell shares have returned +0.9%, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite has changed by +1.8% [11]. - Shell currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting its performance may align with the overall market in the near future [11].

Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) is included among the Dividend Growth Stocks: 25 Aristocrats. Linde’s (LIN) Global Expansion and Hydrogen Strategy Shape Its Long-Term Outlook Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) has spent years building out practical hydrogen solutions, from efficient compression systems to safe refueling technology. It has also developed ways to cut hydrogen’s carbon footprint by pairing production with carbon capture and storage. That work is already translating into large projects. In 2024, Linde reached a ...

BP Plc (NYSE:BP) is one of the most undervalued stocks to buy and hold for 5 years. On January 28, Trinidad and Tobago energy minister Roodal Moonilal disclosed that BP Plc (NYSE:BP) and fellow oil giant Shell are seeking licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control to extract natural gas from fields in Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. The two companies aim to gain access to develop Loran-Manatee, a new field that contains about 10 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas. About 7.3 tcf is loca ...