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IMO vs. SHEL: Imperial Oil vs. Shell Stock Comparison

How do Imperial Oil (IMO) 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

Imperial Oil (IMO) 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.

Imperial Oil (IMO) 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 Imperial Oil (IMO) and Shell (SHEL)
Profile ItemIMOSHEL
NameImperial Oil LimitedShell 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 Capitalization58.92 billion USD280.59 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSE AmericanNYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980March 12, 1984
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

IMO
SHEL
GSPC
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Imperial Oil (IMO) 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 Imperial Oil (IMO) and Shell (SHEL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Imperial Oil (IMO) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricIMOSHEL
Total Return (1Y)35.68%36.30%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)34.62%19.93%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)32.18%21.02%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Imperial Oil (IMO) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricIMOSHEL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)30.00%23.60%
Beta (5Y)0.580.10
Max Drawdown (5Y)-29.72%-25.04%
Avg. Volume (3M)573.33K6.01M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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IMO 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 Imperial Oil (IMO) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricIMOSHEL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.051.36
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.511.99

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Imperial Oil (IMO) at 25.24% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Shell (SHEL) at 17.43% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for IMO.

IMO

Energy industry group

25.24%

Max
53.85%
IMO
25.24%
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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Imperial Oil (IMO) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their ROE against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Imperial Oil (IMO) at 10.88% 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.

IMO

Energy industry group

10.88%

Max
56.92%
Q3
22.92%
IMO
10.88%
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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Imperial Oil (IMO) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their net margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Imperial Oil (IMO) at 21.36% and Shell (SHEL) at 18.76% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

IMO

Energy industry group

21.36%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
IMO
21.36%
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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Imperial Oil (IMO) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Imperial Oil (IMO) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricIMOSHEL
ROE (TTM)25.24%17.43%
ROA (TTM)10.93%7.67%
Net Margin (TTM)10.88%10.18%
Operating Margin (TTM)21.36%18.76%
Gross Margin (TTM)20.08%26.93%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Shell (SHEL) at -6.13% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Imperial Oil (IMO) at -7.42% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Both Imperial Oil (IMO) at -28.24% 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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Imperial Oil (IMO) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Imperial Oil (IMO) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricIMOSHEL
Revenue Growth (YoY)-7.42%-6.13%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-7.56%-11.21%
EPS Growth (YoY)-28.24%18.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-17.26%-19.31%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Imperial Oil (IMO) at 1.30 and Shell (SHEL) at 1.38 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

IMO

Energy industry group

1.30

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
Median
1.41
IMO
1.30
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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Imperial Oil (IMO) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Imperial Oil (IMO) at 0.17 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Shell (SHEL) at 0.38 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

IMO

Energy industry group

0.17

Max
1.75
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
Q1
0.30
IMO
0.17
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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Imperial Oil (IMO) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Imperial Oil (IMO) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricIMOSHEL
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.301.38
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.170.38
Net Debt / EBITDA0.130.59

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Imperial Oil (IMO) at 2.65% and Shell (SHEL) at 1.54% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

IMO

Energy industry group

2.65%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
IMO
2.65%
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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Imperial Oil (IMO) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Imperial Oil (IMO) at 26.49% 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.

IMO

Energy industry group

26.49%

Max
133.24%
Q3
53.31%
IMO
26.49%
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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Imperial Oil (IMO) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Imperial Oil (IMO) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricIMOSHEL
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.65%1.54%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)26.49%26.24%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Imperial Oil (IMO) at 13.78 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.

IMO

Energy industry group

13.78

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
IMO
13.78
Median
12.19
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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Imperial Oil (IMO) 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 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Imperial Oil (IMO) at 1.06 prices around its industry’s middle — SHEL costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

IMO

Energy industry group

1.06

Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
Median
1.69
IMO
1.06
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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Imperial Oil (IMO) 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 Imperial Oil (IMO) at 3.38 carries an above-peer premium to book — IMO is pricier on assets.

IMO

Energy industry group

3.38

Max
4.21
IMO
3.38
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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Imperial Oil (IMO) vs. Shell (SHEL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Imperial Oil (IMO) and Shell (SHEL)
MetricIMOSHEL
P/E Ratio (TTM)13.788.60
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.060.87
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.381.43
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)9.90%10.35%