Can Shell Stock Continue Its Upward Movement?

Integrated energy companies like Royal Dutch Shell plc RDS.A have seen their stock rise since September due to surge in oil prices. The sustained rally in the underlying commodity has given a major boost to the upstream units of these firms as they are in a far better position to extract more value from their products.

What's more, unlike other short-lived rallies over the past three years, we believe the current higher oil prices are a result of improving fundamentals. Solid demand growth, declining inventories and the extension of OPEC-led supply cuts until the end of 2018 is helping to balance the market and support the strong uptrend. In fact, WTI hit a more than two-year high of around $59 recently.

Stock Performance Since September

All of this has contributed to a nice run for Shell with its stock price jumping approximately 14.7% since September, outperforming the industry's 10.4% growth. Shell's peers like ExxonMobil Corp. XOM and Chevron Corp. CVX rose by 8% and 10.3%, respectively, during the same period.

Shell's Cash Flow, Cost and Dividend Position

Hit by the industry downturn and weak financials owing to the $50-billion acquisition of BG Group, Shell began to pay dividend in the form of shares in 2015 to address cash flow woes. However, the supermajor is finally aborting the two-and-a-half-year long scrip dividend program as cost-containment efforts and divestment strategies have paid off. The company's solid third-quarter results also underscore the fact that it has successfully adapted itself to thrive at $50-barrel crude.

On Management Day, which was observed last month, CEO of Shell — Ben van Beurden — announced the resumption of cash dividends from the fourth quarter of 2017. Beurden also announced plans to buy back shares of at least $25 billion by the end of 2020. With the buyback, Shell will be able to overcome the dilution problem under its scrip dividend plan that entitles investors to choose stocks as payout instead of cash.

Driven by synergies from its $50-billion BG Group acquisition last year and improving energy landscape, Shell has also raised its guidance for free cash flow, which has remained consistently strong over the last five quarters. The company now expects to generate $25-$30 billion by 2020 at Brent crude price of $60 a barrel.

With already closing $23 billion worth sales, the company is on track to achieve its $30 billion divestment target by 2018. Further, it announced asset disposals worth $2 billion and additional $5 billion divestment deals in advanced talks over and above the $23 billion completed.

Reaffirming its priorities to slash costs and cut debts, Shell, which ended the third quarter with debt to capital ratio of 25.4%, now aims to reduce the leverage to 20% on the back of operational efficiency and divestment spree.

Can the Stock Continue to March Higher?

While we conclude that Shell's dividends are safe (despite the high yield of more than 5%) and the company is on track to deliver on its plan to produce free cash flow to support the payout, share price appreciation will be limited in the near-to-medium term. The future path of The Hague-based supermajor will depend on whether it can generate enough free cash flow through the cycle to plough back into growth initiatives after maintaining its dividend.

Moreover, Royal Dutch Shell saw its third-quarter oil and gas production decline sequentially as well as from the year-ago period. The group's disposal program – though successful in reducing the company's cost and enhancing cash flows – could further affect volume growth.

Finally, Shell still has some ground to cover in bringing down its debt. As of Sept. 30, 2017, the company had $20,699 million in cash and $88,356 million in debt (including short-term debt). Net debt-to-capitalization ratio was approximately 25.4%, down from 29.2% a year ago following the BG Group acquisition but well above Shell's desired 20%.

Zacks Rank & Stock Picks

Shell currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), implying that it is expected to perform in line with the broader U.S. equity market over the next one to three months.

Meanwhile, one can look at a better-ranked integrated energy player like BP plc BP that sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

London-based BP is one of the largest publicly traded oil and gas companies in the world. It is engaged in oil and gas exploration and production, refining and marketing of petroleum products, and other energy-related businesses. BP surpassed estimates in three of the last four quarters at an average rate of 26.8%.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
 
BP p.l.c. BP: Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Chevron Corporation CVX: Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDS.A): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM: Free Stock Analysis Report
 
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
 
Zacks Investment Research