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CVE vs. SHEL: Cenovus Energy vs. Shell Stock Comparison

How do Cenovus Energy (CVE) 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

Cenovus Energy (CVE) 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.

Cenovus Energy (CVE) trades as ordinary local shares, while Shell (SHEL) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Shell (SHEL)
Profile ItemCVESHEL
NameCenovus Energy Inc.Shell plc American Depositary Shares (Each representing two Ordinary shares)
Country/RegionCanadaUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorEnergyEnergy
GICS Industry GroupEnergyEnergy
GICS IndustryOil, Gas & Consumable FuelsOil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
GICS Sub-IndustryIntegrated Oil & GasIntegrated Oil & Gas
Market Capitalization49.61 billion USD280.59 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateNovember 17, 2009March 12, 1984
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CVE
SHEL
GSPC
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Cenovus Energy (CVE) 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 Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Shell (SHEL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricCVESHEL
Total Return (1Y)60.99%36.30%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)19.41%19.93%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)18.63%21.02%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CVE
SHEL
GSPC
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Cenovus Energy (CVE) 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 Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Shell (SHEL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricCVESHEL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)37.47%23.60%
Beta (5Y)0.430.10
Max Drawdown (5Y)-53.51%-25.04%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.90M6.01M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CVE 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 Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricCVESHEL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.511.36
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.201.99

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Cenovus Energy (CVE) at 27.44% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Shell (SHEL) at 17.43% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CVE.

CVE

Energy industry group

27.44%

Max
53.85%
CVE
27.44%
Q3
24.79%
Median
12.85%
Q1
2.03%
Min
-29.09%

SHEL

Energy industry group

17.43%

Max
53.85%
Q3
24.79%
SHEL
17.43%
Median
12.85%
Q1
2.03%
Min
-29.09%
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Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their ROE against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Cenovus Energy (CVE) at 15.42% and Shell (SHEL) at 10.18% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

CVE

Energy industry group

15.42%

Max
56.92%
Q3
22.92%
CVE
15.42%
Median
10.10%
Q1
0.07%
Min
-27.38%

SHEL

Energy industry group

10.18%

Max
56.92%
Q3
22.92%
SHEL
10.18%
Median
10.10%
Q1
0.07%
Min
-27.38%
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Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their net margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Cenovus Energy (CVE) at 26.58% and Shell (SHEL) at 18.76% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

CVE

Energy industry group

26.58%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
CVE
26.58%
Median
18.73%
Q1
6.94%
Min
-24.52%

SHEL

Energy industry group

18.76%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
SHEL
18.76%
Median
18.73%
Q1
6.94%
Min
-24.52%
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Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricCVESHEL
ROE (TTM)27.44%17.43%
ROA (TTM)12.05%7.67%
Net Margin (TTM)15.42%10.18%
Operating Margin (TTM)26.58%18.76%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.92%26.93%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Shell (SHEL) at -6.13% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Cenovus Energy (CVE) at -8.62% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Cenovus Energy (CVE) at 28.74% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Shell (SHEL) at 18.58% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for CVE.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricCVESHEL
Revenue Growth (YoY)-8.62%-6.13%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-9.75%-11.21%
EPS Growth (YoY)28.74%18.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-12.42%-19.31%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Cenovus Energy (CVE) at 1.64 and Shell (SHEL) at 1.38 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

CVE

Energy industry group

1.64

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
CVE
1.64
Median
1.41
Q1
0.88
Min
0.24

SHEL

Energy industry group

1.38

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
Median
1.41
SHEL
1.38
Q1
0.88
Min
0.24
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Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Cenovus Energy (CVE) at 0.33 and Shell (SHEL) at 0.38 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

CVE

Energy industry group

0.33

Max
1.75
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
CVE
0.33
Q1
0.30
Min
0.00

SHEL

Energy industry group

0.38

Max
1.75
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
SHEL
0.38
Q1
0.30
Min
0.00
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Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricCVESHEL
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.641.38
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.330.38
Net Debt / EBITDA0.350.59

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Cenovus Energy (CVE) at 3.04% and Shell (SHEL) at 1.54% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

CVE

Energy industry group

3.04%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
CVE
3.04%
Median
1.71%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

SHEL

Energy industry group

1.54%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
Median
1.71%
SHEL
1.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Cenovus Energy (CVE) at 22.84% and Shell (SHEL) at 26.24% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

CVE

Energy industry group

22.84%

Max
133.24%
Q3
53.31%
Median
25.24%
CVE
22.84%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

SHEL

Energy industry group

26.24%

Max
133.24%
Q3
53.31%
SHEL
26.24%
Median
25.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricCVESHEL
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.04%1.54%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)22.84%26.24%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Cenovus Energy (CVE) at 10.56 and Shell (SHEL) at 8.60 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

CVE

Energy industry group

10.56

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
Median
12.19
CVE
10.56
Q1
7.71
Min
2.99

SHEL

Energy industry group

8.60

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
Median
12.19
SHEL
8.60
Q1
7.71
Min
2.99
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Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Cenovus Energy (CVE) at 0.88 and Shell (SHEL) at 0.87 fetch a relatively low price per dollar of sales, landing in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

CVE

Energy industry group

0.88

Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
Median
1.69
Q1
0.88
CVE
0.88
Min
0.00

SHEL

Energy industry group

0.87

Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
Median
1.69
Q1
0.88
SHEL
0.87
Min
0.00
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Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Cenovus Energy (CVE) at 1.98 and Shell (SHEL) at 1.43 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

CVE

Energy industry group

1.98

Max
4.21
Q3
2.38
CVE
1.98
Median
1.51
Q1
1.08
Min
0.01

SHEL

Energy industry group

1.43

Max
4.21
Q3
2.38
Median
1.51
SHEL
1.43
Q1
1.08
Min
0.01
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Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricCVESHEL
P/E Ratio (TTM)10.568.60
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.880.87
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.981.43
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)20.71%10.35%