Shell (NYSE:SHEL) Stock Crosses Below Fifty Day Moving Average – Should You Sell?

Shell PLC Unsponsored ADR (NYSE:SHEL)’s share price passed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $99.09 and traded as low as $98.31. Shell shares last traded at $99.0340, with a volume of 6,449,569 shares.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

SHEL has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group restated a “buy” rating on shares of Shell in a research note on Thursday, October 29th. Piper Sandler raised their target price on Shell from $89.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, September 3rd. Zacks Research raised Shell from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 6th. Mizuho set a $103.00 price target on Shell in a report on Monday, October 12th. Finally, HSBC reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Shell in a research report on Friday, September 25th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have issued a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Shell currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $107.08.

Shell Price Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $99.09 and its 200 day moving average price is $88.88. The firm has a market cap of $283.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 0.07.

Shell (NYSE:SHEL) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 29th. The energy company reported $3.86 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.60 by $0.26. Shell had a return on equity of 16.86% and a net margin of 9.96%. The business had revenue of $92.85 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $93.25 billion. Equities research analysts predict that Shell PLC Unsponsored ADR will post 12.29 earnings per share for the current year.

Shell announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share buyback program on Thursday, October 29th that permits the company to repurchase $5 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the energy company to repurchase up to 1.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are often a sign that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Institutional Trading of Shell

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Charles Schwab Trust Co lifted its position in Shell by 3.3% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Trust Co now owns 3,148 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $299,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Aviance Capital Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Shell by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. Aviance Capital Partners LLC now owns 3,408 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $324,000 after buying an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Shell by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. now owns 17,771 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $1,689,000 after buying an additional 106 shares in the last quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Shell by 4.1% in the 3rd quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 2,821 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $268,000 after buying an additional 110 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vista Investment Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Shell by 2.1% during the 3rd quarter. Vista Investment Partners LLC now owns 5,651 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $537,000 after buying an additional 116 shares in the last quarter. 28.60% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Shell

Shell plc is a global energy company engaged in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas, natural gas liquefaction and marketing, and the refining and sale of fuels and other products. Its businesses also include chemicals, power and energy solutions, including lower-carbon offerings such as biofuels, hydrogen and electric-vehicle charging.

The company serves customers and operates across regions worldwide. Its products and services reach consumers, businesses and industrial customers through activities such as fuel retailing, natural gas supply, chemicals production and energy trading.

Shell traces its history to the 1907 merger of Royal Dutch Petroleum and the U.K.’s Shell Transport and Trading Company.