10 Best Oil Stocks to Invest In According to Billionaires

3. Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL)

Number of Billionaire Holders: 14

Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) is a global group of energy and petrochemical companies, employing 103,000 people and with operations in more than 70 countries. The company is also the number one global lubricant supplier, as well as the top player in the rapidly expanding LNG sector.

Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) had a tough Q4 2024, as its adjusted EPS of $1.18 fell below expectations by $0.31. The company’s revenue of $66.28 billion also missed estimates by over $5.5 billion. However, despite the company reporting the lowest quarterly profit in the last 3 years, cash delivery remained solid, and it generated a free cash flow of $40 billion across the year 2024, higher than 2023, in a lower price environment. The oil and gas giant distributed $22.6 billion to its shareholders during the year, representing 41% of its total free cash flow. Earlier this year, Shell announced a 4% increase in its quarterly dividend and another $3.5 billion buyback programme, making this the 13th consecutive quarter of at least $3 billion of buybacks.

Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) recently lowered its Q1 2025 LNG production outlook last week, citing the impact of bad weather in Australia. The company has also decreased its upstream oil and gas production forecast to between 1.79 million and 1.89 million boed in the first quarter, down from a previous projection of 1.75 million to 1.95 million boed.