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FRO vs. SHEL: Frontline vs. Shell Stock Comparison

How do Frontline (FRO) 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

Frontline (FRO) and Shell (SHEL) both belong to the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry, though FRO is classified under Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation while SHEL falls under Integrated Oil & Gas.

Frontline (FRO) 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 Frontline (FRO) and Shell (SHEL)
Profile ItemFROSHEL
NameFrontline plc Ordinary SharesShell plc American Depositary Shares (Each representing two Ordinary shares)
Country/RegionCyprusUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorEnergyEnergy
GICS Industry GroupEnergyEnergy
GICS IndustryOil, Gas & Consumable FuelsOil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
GICS Sub-IndustryOil & Gas Storage & TransportationIntegrated Oil & Gas
Market Capitalization10.11 billion USD280.59 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateAugust 6, 2001March 12, 1984
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FRO
SHEL
GSPC
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Frontline (FRO) 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 Frontline (FRO) and Shell (SHEL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Frontline (FRO) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricFROSHEL
Total Return (1Y)119.28%36.30%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)40.57%19.93%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)52.54%21.02%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Frontline (FRO) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricFROSHEL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)46.26%23.60%
Beta (5Y)0.220.10
Max Drawdown (5Y)-52.04%-25.04%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.68M6.01M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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FRO 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 Frontline (FRO) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricFROSHEL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.491.36
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.741.99

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Frontline (FRO) at 53.85% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Shell (SHEL) at 17.43% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for FRO.

FRO

Energy industry group

53.85%

FRO
53.85%
Max
53.85%
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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Frontline (FRO) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their ROE against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Frontline (FRO) at 54.76% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Shell (SHEL) at 10.18%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

FRO

Energy industry group

54.76%

Max
56.92%
FRO
54.76%
Q3
22.92%
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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Frontline (FRO) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their net margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Frontline (FRO) at 65.83% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Shell (SHEL) at 18.76%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

FRO

Energy industry group

65.83%

Max
71.31%
FRO
65.83%
Q3
33.75%
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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Frontline (FRO) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Frontline (FRO) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricFROSHEL
ROE (TTM)53.85%17.43%
ROA (TTM)14.25%7.67%
Net Margin (TTM)54.76%10.18%
Operating Margin (TTM)65.83%18.76%
Gross Margin (TTM)63.03%26.93%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Frontline (FRO) at -4.16% 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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Frontline (FRO) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Frontline (FRO) at -23.77% and Shell (SHEL) at 18.58% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Frontline (FRO) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricFROSHEL
Revenue Growth (YoY)-4.16%-6.13%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)11.17%-11.21%
EPS Growth (YoY)-23.77%18.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-8.37%-19.31%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Frontline (FRO) at 1.87 and Shell (SHEL) at 1.38 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

FRO

Energy industry group

1.87

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
FRO
1.87
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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Frontline (FRO) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Frontline (FRO) at 0.77 and Shell (SHEL) at 0.38 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

FRO

Energy industry group

0.77

Max
1.75
Q3
0.93
FRO
0.77
Median
0.54
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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Frontline (FRO) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Frontline (FRO) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricFROSHEL
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.871.38
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.770.38
Net Debt / EBITDA1.280.59

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Shell (SHEL) at 1.54% pays an industry-typical yield; Frontline (FRO) at 12.04% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

FRO

Energy industry group

12.04%

FRO
12.04%
Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
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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Frontline (FRO) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Frontline (FRO) at 46.93% 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.

FRO

Energy industry group

46.93%

Max
133.24%
Q3
53.31%
FRO
46.93%
Median
25.24%
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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Frontline (FRO) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Frontline (FRO) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricFROSHEL
Dividend Yield (TTM)12.04%1.54%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)46.93%26.24%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Frontline (FRO) at 6.81 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Shell (SHEL) at 8.60 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for FRO, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

FRO

Energy industry group

6.81

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
Median
12.19
Q1
7.71
FRO
6.81
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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Frontline (FRO) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Shell (SHEL) at 0.87 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Frontline (FRO) at 3.72 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

FRO

Energy industry group

3.72

Max
5.40
FRO
3.72
Q3
2.85
Median
1.69
Q1
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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Frontline (FRO) 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 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Frontline (FRO) at 3.20 carries an above-peer premium to book — FRO is pricier on assets.

FRO

Energy industry group

3.20

Max
4.21
FRO
3.20
Q3
2.38
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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Frontline (FRO) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Frontline (FRO) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricFROSHEL
P/E Ratio (TTM)6.818.60
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.720.87
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.201.43
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.81%10.35%