Oil giant Shell beats first-quarter profit estimates, launches $3.5 billion share buyback

British oil giant Shell on Thursday reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter profit, boosted by higher refining margins and robust oil trading.

Shell reported adjusted earnings of $7.7 billion for the first three months of the year, beating analyst expectations of $6.5 billion, according to an LSEG-compiled consensus.

A year earlier, the company posted adjusted earnings $9.6 billion over the same period and $7.3 billion for the final three months of 2023.

Shell CEO Wael Sawan described the results as “another quarter of strong operational and financial performance.”

The oil major announced a $3.5 billion share buyback program, which it expects to complete over the next three months. Its dividend remains unchanged.

Shares of the London-listed stock dipped 0.6% on Thursday morning.

“Shell has beaten expectations by a reasonable margin, despite the impact of lower gas prices during the first quarter,” Stuart Lamont, investment manager at U.K.-based wealth manager RBC Brewin Dolphin, said in a statement.

Source: CNBC