Shell Target of Unusually Large Options Trading (NYSE:SHEL)

Shell PLC Unsponsored ADR (NYSE:SHEL) was the recipient of unusually large options trading activity on Thursday. Investors bought 42,426 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of approximately 276% compared to the average volume of 11,271 call options.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

SHEL has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Erste Group Bank restated a “hold” rating on shares of Shell in a research note on Tuesday, May 5th. Rothschild & Co Redburn lowered shares of Shell from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 9th. Mizuho began coverage on shares of Shell in a report on Monday, July 20th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $98.00 price target for the company. TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating on shares of Shell in a report on Thursday, July 2nd. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane set a $101.00 price objective on shares of Shell and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, April 17th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and fourteen have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $98.19.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Colonial Trust Advisors raised its stake in shares of Shell by 9.5% in the fourth quarter. Colonial Trust Advisors now owns 1,488 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $109,000 after acquiring an additional 129 shares during the last quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. grew its position in Shell by 2.9% during the 2nd quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 4,800 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $372,000 after acquiring an additional 137 shares during the last quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC increased its holdings in Shell by 14.1% during the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 1,215 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $109,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. LRI Investments LLC raised its position in Shell by 25.1% in the 4th quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 846 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $62,000 after purchasing an additional 170 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NBC Securities Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Shell by 1.9% during the fourth quarter. NBC Securities Inc. now owns 9,552 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $702,000 after purchasing an additional 176 shares during the last quarter. 28.60% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Shell Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE SHEL opened at $88.41 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $247.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.77, a PEG ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 0.06. Shell has a one year low of $68.63 and a one year high of $94.90. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $83.39 and a 200 day simple moving average of $83.49. The company has a current ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38.

Shell (NYSE:SHEL) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, May 8th. The energy company reported $2.44 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.14 by $0.30. Shell had a net margin of 6.85% and a return on equity of 11.18%. The firm had revenue of $69.69 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $77.54 billion. Sell-side analysts expect that Shell will post 9.44 EPS for the current year.

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.