Shell Earnings Fall Short, $3.5bn Buyback Offers Support

Shell, one of the world’s largest energy companies and a major component of global equity benchmarks like the FTSE 100, recently reported quarterly results that fell below analyst expectations, yet reaffirmed its commitment to returning cash to shareholders by launching a $3.5 billion share buyback programme and raising its dividend. The mixed results highlight the challenges facing the oil and gas sector in a period of weaker energy prices, while also showing why many investors keep a close eye on corporate financial strategies in the stock market.