British oil and gas giant Shell has revealed that it will be slashing costs, especially in clean energy, while also increasing shareholder returns. This decision comes as the company attempts to reduce its valuation gap against US competitors such as Chevron and ExxonMobil.
Shell’s share price was up 1.8% on the London Stock Exchange on Tuesday morning.
The company shared that it will hike shareholder distributions from between 30% and 40% of cash flow from operations to between 40% and 50%, while also continuing to focus on share buybacks.
It will also slash yearly costs to between $5bn (€4.6bn) and $7bn (€6.5bn) by the end of 2028, compared to 2022, while also reducing its capital expenditure to between $20bn (€18.5bn) and $22bn (€20.4bn) annually for 2025-2028.
Shell also said that it would be aiming to increase free cash flow per share by over 10% annually through to 2030, while sticking to the ambitions and climate goals outlined in its Energy Transition Strategy 2024.
The company doubled down on its strong position in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market and revealed that it would be hiking sales by between 4% and 5% annually through to 2030.
This news was welcomed by several investors who had been vocally opposed to the company’s previous focus on renewable energy. This was mainly because of concerns about profit timelines in the renewable energy sector. Shell’s decision to abandon sustainability goals has nonetheless prompted resistance from climate activists.
In a statement released ahead of its Capital Markets Day 2025 event on Tuesday, Shell’s CEO Wael Sawan said: “We have made significant progress against all of the targets we set out at our Capital Markets Day in 2023. Thanks to the outstanding efforts of our people, we are transforming Shell to become simpler, more resilient and more competitive.”
He continued:”We want to become the world’s leading integrated gas and LNG business and the most customer-focused energy marketer and trader, while sustaining a material level of liquids production. Today we are raising the bar across our key financial targets, investing where we have competitive strengths and delivering more for our shareholders.’’
Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said in an email note: “Shell is already streets ahead of BP in putting clean energy projects at the back of the queue and focusing on fossil fuels.
“For energy producers in today’s world, the name of the game is to have the money-making machine on full pelt. Shell has its toes dipped in the renewable energy pool but hasn’t jumped face first into all things green. It’s clear that oil and gas remain the primary profit engines.”
Shell earnings fall in 2024 despite increased focus on fossil fuels
Shell reported adjusted earnings of $23.7bn (€21.9bn) in 2024, which was down from 2023’s $28.3bn (€26.2bn). This was despite the company changing direction and shifting its focus on oil and gas, after previously pledging that it would be cutting oil output.
Cash flow from operating activities came up to $54.7bn (€50.6bn) in 2024, which was marginally up from 2023’s $54.2bn (€50.2bn). On the other hand, free cash flow increased to $39.5bn (€36.6bn) in 2024, up from 2023’s $36.5bn (€33.8bn).
Sir Andrew Mackenzie, the chairman of Shell, said when announcing yearly results: “We will help to keep the world moving with oil and gas, while developing the low-carbon alternatives our customers need to decarbonise."
Sawan also said on the company’s website: "We have set out to transform Shell into a more focused and more competitive energy business, and I am pleased to say that in 2024, we moved forward at pace in that direction."
