Shell plcOil price jump boosts upstream earnings; chemicals sale considered as exit from weak business.

Shell climbed about 1.8% to $93.07 on Tuesday as Brent crude jumped more than 2% to around $92.66 a barrel, driven by renewed Middle East fighting that pushed supply fears and geopolitical premiums back into the market. The integrated energy and LNG giant is reportedly considering offers for its U.S. chemical assets, which could be worth as much as $8 billion. According to a Reuters Breakingviews analysis, Shell invested roughly $25 billion across chemicals, including $14 billion in Pennsylvania's Monaca complex, but the division generated a negative 2% return on invested capital in 2024. An $8 billion sale would recover just 32% of that historical investment, a painful haircut but potentially a smart exit from a chronically weak business. Shell's latest quarter delivered $21.4 billion in operating cash flow and $17.5 billion in free cash flow, giving management room to reject a bad price. The stock trades 11.34% above its $83.59 GF Value estimate, adding a valuation warning.
Shell plcOil price jump boosts upstream earnings; chemicals sale considered as exit from weak business.