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BP vs. SHEL: BP vs. Shell Stock Comparison

How do BP (BP) and Shell (SHEL) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

BP (BP) and Shell (SHEL) are both classified in the Integrated Oil & Gas sub-industry within the broader Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Both BP (BP) and Shell (SHEL) trade as ADRs — their core financials are comparable, but keep FX, depositary-program fees, and dividend withholding in view for each.

Company profile comparison for BP (BP) and Shell (SHEL)
Profile ItemBPSHEL
NameBP Plc Sponsored ADRShell plc American Depositary Shares (Each representing two Ordinary shares)
Country/RegionUnited KingdomUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorEnergyEnergy
GICS Industry GroupEnergyEnergy
GICS IndustryOil, Gas & Consumable FuelsOil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
GICS Sub-IndustryIntegrated Oil & GasIntegrated Oil & Gas
Market Capitalization112.83 billion USD265.91 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962March 12, 1984
Security TypeADRADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BP
SHEL
GSPC
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BP (BP) vs. Shell (SHEL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for BP (BP) and Shell (SHEL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for BP (BP) and Shell (SHEL). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for BP (BP) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricBPSHEL
Total Return (1Y)34.31%33.33%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)10.53%18.51%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)17.80%22.74%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BP
SHEL
GSPC
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BP (BP) vs. Shell (SHEL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for BP (BP) and Shell (SHEL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for BP (BP) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricBPSHEL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)28.98%22.48%
Beta (5Y)0.200.11
Max Drawdown (5Y)-30.64%-25.04%
Avg. Volume (3M)9.01M6.42M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BP and SHEL are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for BP (BP) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricBPSHEL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.041.30
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.471.91

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both BP (BP) at 8.87% and Shell (SHEL) at 14.34% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

BP

Energy industry group

8.87%

Max
42.10%
Q3
20.91%
Median
11.24%
BP
8.87%
Q1
1.52%
Min
-26.68%

SHEL

Energy industry group

14.34%

Max
42.10%
Q3
20.91%
SHEL
14.34%
Median
11.24%
Q1
1.52%
Min
-26.68%
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BP (BP) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their ROE against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both BP (BP) at 2.55% and Shell (SHEL) at 8.76% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

BP

Energy industry group

2.55%

Max
54.76%
Q3
22.09%
Median
8.01%
BP
2.55%
Q1
0.05%
Min
-31.11%

SHEL

Energy industry group

8.76%

Max
54.76%
Q3
22.09%
SHEL
8.76%
Median
8.01%
Q1
0.05%
Min
-31.11%
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BP (BP) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their net margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both BP (BP) at 13.15% and Shell (SHEL) at 16.69% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

BP

Energy industry group

13.15%

Max
83.65%
Q3
43.89%
Median
22.45%
BP
13.15%
Q1
8.51%
Min
-9.47%

SHEL

Energy industry group

16.69%

Max
83.65%
Q3
43.89%
Median
22.45%
SHEL
16.69%
Q1
8.51%
Min
-9.47%
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BP (BP) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for BP (BP) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricBPSHEL
ROE (TTM)8.87%14.34%
ROA (TTM)5.04%6.40%
Net Margin (TTM)2.55%8.76%
Operating Margin (TTM)13.15%16.69%
Gross Margin (TTM)28.30%26.09%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both BP (BP) at 0.08% and Shell (SHEL) at -6.13% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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BP (BP) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Shell (SHEL) at 18.58% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while BP (BP) at -85.34% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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BP (BP) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for BP (BP) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricBPSHEL
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.08%-6.13%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-7.78%-11.21%
EPS Growth (YoY)-85.34%18.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---19.31%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both BP (BP) at 1.27 and Shell (SHEL) at 1.44 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

BP

Energy industry group

1.27

Max
4.12
Q3
2.27
Median
1.46
BP
1.27
Q1
0.90
Min
0.24

SHEL

Energy industry group

1.44

Max
4.12
Q3
2.27
Median
1.46
SHEL
1.44
Q1
0.90
Min
0.24
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BP (BP) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both BP (BP) at 0.95 and Shell (SHEL) at 0.40 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

BP

Energy industry group

0.95

Max
2.00
Q3
0.98
BP
0.95
Median
0.56
Q1
0.27
Min
0.00

SHEL

Energy industry group

0.40

Max
2.00
Q3
0.98
Median
0.56
SHEL
0.40
Q1
0.27
Min
0.00
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BP (BP) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for BP (BP) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricBPSHEL
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.271.44
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.950.40
Net Debt / EBITDA0.900.72

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both BP (BP) at 0.77% and Shell (SHEL) at 1.64% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

BP

Energy industry group

0.77%

Max
7.75%
Q3
3.24%
Median
1.40%
BP
0.77%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

SHEL

Energy industry group

1.64%

Max
7.75%
Q3
3.24%
SHEL
1.64%
Median
1.40%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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BP (BP) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Shell (SHEL) at 32.71% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while BP (BP) at 95.39% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

BP

Energy industry group

95.39%

Max
123.08%
BP
95.39%
Q3
52.71%
Median
26.57%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

SHEL

Energy industry group

32.71%

Max
123.08%
Q3
52.71%
SHEL
32.71%
Median
26.57%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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BP (BP) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for BP (BP) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricBPSHEL
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.77%1.64%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)95.39%32.71%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both BP (BP) at 20.96 and Shell (SHEL) at 10.28 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

BP

Energy industry group

20.96

Max
53.58
Q3
27.49
BP
20.96
Median
15.20
Q1
9.32
Min
2.53

SHEL

Energy industry group

10.28

Max
53.58
Q3
27.49
Median
15.20
SHEL
10.28
Q1
9.32
Min
2.53
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BP (BP) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both BP (BP) at 0.52 and Shell (SHEL) at 0.90 fetch a relatively low price per dollar of sales, landing in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

BP

Energy industry group

0.52

Max
5.30
Q3
3.07
Median
1.91
Q1
1.06
BP
0.52
Min
0.00

SHEL

Energy industry group

0.90

Max
5.30
Q3
3.07
Median
1.91
Q1
1.06
SHEL
0.90
Min
0.00
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BP (BP) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Shell (SHEL) at 1.43 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while BP (BP) at 7.76 prices above its benchmark range — BP looks rich relative to book.

BP

Energy industry group

7.76

BP
7.76
Max
4.75
Q3
2.75
Median
1.87
Q1
1.32
Min
0.01

SHEL

Energy industry group

1.43

Max
4.75
Q3
2.75
Median
1.87
SHEL
1.43
Q1
1.32
Min
0.01
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BP (BP) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for BP (BP) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricBPSHEL
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.9610.28
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.520.90
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.761.43
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)11.41%8.07%