Shell Lowers Q1 Production Outlook, Flags Write-Offs And Maintenance
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 07 2025
0mins
Should l Buy SHEL?
Source: Benzinga
Production Outlook Revision: Shell PLC has lowered its first-quarter production guidance for Integrated Gas and Upstream segments due to unplanned maintenance and the completion of a divestment, leading to a decrease in expected output across various categories.
Financial Adjustments and Stock Performance: The company has raised its cost reduction target and plans to increase shareholder distributions while experiencing a 4.80% drop in stock price during premarket trading.
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Analyst Views on SHEL
Wall Street analysts forecast SHEL stock price to fall
10 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
5 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 78.220
Low
41.75
Averages
74.27
High
91.00
Current: 78.220
Low
41.75
Averages
74.27
High
91.00
About SHEL
Shell plc is an international energy company engaged in the principal aspects of the energy and petrochemical industries. The Company's segments include Integrated Gas, Upstream, Marketing, Chemicals and Products, Renewables and Energy Solutions, and Corporate. The Integrated Gas segment includes liquefied natural gas (LNG), conversion of natural gas into gas-to-liquids (GTL) fuels and other products. It includes natural gas and liquids exploration and extraction, and the operation of the upstream and midstream infrastructure. The Upstream segment includes exploration and extraction of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. It also markets and transports oil and gas and operates the infrastructure necessary to deliver them to the market. The Marketing segment comprises the Mobility, Lubricants, and Sectors & Decarbonization businesses. The Chemicals and Products segment includes chemicals manufacturing plants with their own marketing network, and refineries.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- New License Issued: The U.S. Treasury has issued a general license allowing international oil companies, including Chevron, to negotiate and sign contracts for oil and gas extraction in Venezuela, paving the way for global oil firms to re-enter the country.
- Tax Requirements: Under the new license, participating companies must pay oil and gas royalties or taxes to Venezuela or its state-run energy company, with these funds deposited into a U.S. Treasury account for foreign governments, ensuring transparency in fund allocation.
- Legal Adjustment Context: The license announcement aligns with adjustments made by Venezuela's interim government to its hydrocarbon law aimed at easing state control over the oil industry, although major U.S. firms remain cautious about investing.
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- Operational Capacity Overview: Sprng Energy boasts an operational capacity of 2,300 MWp and a contracted total capacity of 5,026 MWp, indicating its potential in the Indian renewable energy market while providing a significant asset base for Shell's long-term strategy.
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- Future Production Goals: Shell aims to increase oil and gas production by at least 1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2030, indicating a continued investment in traditional energy sectors, which may influence its renewable energy strategy.
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- Declining Reserve Life: As of 2025, Shell's reserve life has dropped to less than eight years, down from nine years in 2024, indicating a concerning decline in production from maturing fields, which is significantly lower than the 12-plus years seen at Exxon and TotalEnergies, potentially impacting future output.
- Capital Utilization Strategy: Sawan emphasized that Shell does not need to leverage its own capital for U.S. LNG projects due to the availability of abundant low-cost funding for infrastructure, which helps mitigate financial risks and optimize capital allocation.
- LNG Market Management: As one of the largest offtakers of U.S. LNG, Shell effectively manages price exposure through customer contracts indexed to Henry Hub natural gas prices, allowing the company to capture attractive value in the LNG chain without tying up significant capital.
See More
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- Audit Report Quality: Over the past two years, EY issued only unqualified reports on Shell's consolidated financial statements and internal control effectiveness, with no disagreements on accounting matters or disclosures, indicating stable audit quality.
- Tender Process Transparency: Audit tender participants were informed of the outcome on February 5, 2026, and further details regarding the tender process will be included in Shell's 2025 Annual Report and Form 20-F, enhancing corporate governance transparency.
See More
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- LNG Project Progress: ConocoPhillips highlighted advancements in liquefied natural gas (LNG) initiatives, including developments in Qatar and the Port Arthur LNG project, indicating a strategic pivot towards global gas markets that is expected to positively influence future earnings.
- ETF Investment Trends: Many flagship energy funds are heavily weighted towards large integrated producers, while globally focused products like the iShares Global Energy ETF (NYSE:IXC) include international LNG leaders such as Shell, providing investors with indirect exposure to the expanding global gas trade.
- Stable Shareholder Returns: Despite earnings pressures, shareholder payouts remain robust across the energy sector, with dividends and share repurchases by large producers continuing to enhance the yield profile of energy ETFs, indicating a transition in the sector rather than deterioration.
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