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SHEL vs. SLB: Shell vs. SLB Stock Comparison

How do Shell (SHEL) and SLB (SLB) 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

Shell (SHEL) and SLB (SLB) both fall under the Energy industry group, but SHEL is classified in Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels while SLB is classified in Energy Equipment & Services.

SLB (SLB) 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 Shell (SHEL) and SLB (SLB)
Profile ItemSHELSLB
NameShell plc American Depositary Shares (Each representing two Ordinary shares)SLB N.V.
Country/RegionUnited KingdomUnited States
GICS SectorEnergyEnergy
GICS Industry GroupEnergyEnergy
GICS IndustryOil, Gas & Consumable FuelsEnergy Equipment & Services
GICS Sub-IndustryIntegrated Oil & GasOil & Gas Equipment & Services
Market Capitalization280.59 billion USD73.68 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 12, 1984December 31, 1981
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

SHEL
SLB
GSPC
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Shell (SHEL) vs. SLB (SLB), 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 Shell (SHEL) and SLB (SLB). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Shell (SHEL) and SLB (SLB)
MetricSHELSLB
Total Return (1Y)36.30%41.53%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)19.93%1.23%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)21.02%10.62%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Shell (SHEL) and SLB (SLB)
MetricSHELSLB
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)23.60%37.07%
Beta (5Y)0.100.80
Max Drawdown (5Y)-25.04%-46.63%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.01M12.57M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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SHEL and SLB 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 Shell (SHEL) and SLB (SLB)
MetricSHELSLB
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.361.00
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.991.59

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Shell (SHEL) at 17.43% and SLB (SLB) at 11.66% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

SHEL

Energy industry group

17.43%

Max
53.85%
Q3
24.79%
SHEL
17.43%
Median
12.85%
Q1
2.03%
Min
-29.09%

SLB

Energy industry group

11.66%

Max
53.85%
Q3
24.79%
Median
12.85%
SLB
11.66%
Q1
2.03%
Min
-29.09%
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Shell (SHEL) vs. SLB (SLB): A comparison of their ROE against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Shell (SHEL) at 10.18% and SLB (SLB) at 8.40% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

SHEL

Energy industry group

10.18%

Max
56.92%
Q3
22.92%
SHEL
10.18%
Median
10.10%
Q1
0.07%
Min
-27.38%

SLB

Energy industry group

8.40%

Max
56.92%
Q3
22.92%
Median
10.10%
SLB
8.40%
Q1
0.07%
Min
-27.38%
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Shell (SHEL) vs. SLB (SLB): A comparison of their net margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Shell (SHEL) at 18.76% and SLB (SLB) at 14.03% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

SHEL

Energy industry group

18.76%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
SHEL
18.76%
Median
18.73%
Q1
6.94%
Min
-24.52%

SLB

Energy industry group

14.03%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
Median
18.73%
SLB
14.03%
Q1
6.94%
Min
-24.52%
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Shell (SHEL) vs. SLB (SLB): A comparison of their operating margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Shell (SHEL) and SLB (SLB)
MetricSHELSLB
ROE (TTM)17.43%11.66%
ROA (TTM)7.67%5.72%
Net Margin (TTM)10.18%8.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)18.76%14.03%
Gross Margin (TTM)26.93%16.59%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Shell (SHEL) at -6.13% and SLB (SLB) at -1.60% 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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Shell (SHEL) vs. SLB (SLB): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Shell (SHEL) at 18.58% and SLB (SLB) at -24.44% 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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Shell (SHEL) vs. SLB (SLB): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Shell (SHEL) and SLB (SLB)
MetricSHELSLB
Revenue Growth (YoY)-6.13%-1.60%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-11.21%8.33%
EPS Growth (YoY)18.58%-24.44%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-19.31%-0.56%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Shell (SHEL) at 1.38 and SLB (SLB) at 1.39 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

SHEL

Energy industry group

1.38

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
Median
1.41
SHEL
1.38
Q1
0.88
Min
0.24

SLB

Energy industry group

1.39

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
Median
1.41
SLB
1.39
Q1
0.88
Min
0.24
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Shell (SHEL) vs. SLB (SLB): A comparison of their current ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Shell (SHEL) at 0.38 and SLB (SLB) at 0.47 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

SHEL

Energy industry group

0.38

Max
1.75
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
SHEL
0.38
Q1
0.30
Min
0.00

SLB

Energy industry group

0.47

Max
1.75
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
SLB
0.47
Q1
0.30
Min
0.00
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Shell (SHEL) vs. SLB (SLB): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Shell (SHEL) and SLB (SLB)
MetricSHELSLB
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.381.39
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.380.47
Net Debt / EBITDA0.591.25

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Shell (SHEL) at 1.54% and SLB (SLB) at 2.36% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

SHEL

Energy industry group

1.54%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
Median
1.71%
SHEL
1.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

SLB

Energy industry group

2.36%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
SLB
2.36%
Median
1.71%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Shell (SHEL) vs. SLB (SLB): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Shell (SHEL) at 26.24% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while SLB (SLB) at 56.80% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

SHEL

Energy industry group

26.24%

Max
133.24%
Q3
53.31%
SHEL
26.24%
Median
25.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

SLB

Energy industry group

56.80%

Max
133.24%
SLB
56.80%
Q3
53.31%
Median
25.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Shell (SHEL) vs. SLB (SLB): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Shell (SHEL) and SLB (SLB)
MetricSHELSLB
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.54%2.36%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)26.24%56.80%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Shell (SHEL) at 8.60 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while SLB (SLB) at 24.23 sits in the richer quartile — SLB needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

SHEL

Energy industry group

8.60

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
Median
12.19
SHEL
8.60
Q1
7.71
Min
2.99

SLB

Energy industry group

24.23

Max
39.54
SLB
24.23
Q3
21.72
Median
12.19
Q1
7.71
Min
2.99
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Shell (SHEL) vs. SLB (SLB): 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 SLB (SLB) at 2.00 prices around its industry’s middle — SHEL costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

SHEL

Energy industry group

0.87

Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
Median
1.69
Q1
0.88
SHEL
0.87
Min
0.00

SLB

Energy industry group

2.00

Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
SLB
2.00
Median
1.69
Q1
0.88
Min
0.00
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Shell (SHEL) vs. SLB (SLB): 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 SLB (SLB) at 2.83 carries an above-peer premium to book — SLB is pricier on assets.

SHEL

Energy industry group

1.43

Max
4.21
Q3
2.38
Median
1.51
SHEL
1.43
Q1
1.08
Min
0.01

SLB

Energy industry group

2.83

Max
4.21
SLB
2.83
Q3
2.38
Median
1.51
Q1
1.08
Min
0.01
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Shell (SHEL) vs. SLB (SLB): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Shell (SHEL) and SLB (SLB)
MetricSHELSLB
P/E Ratio (TTM)8.6024.23
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.872.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.432.83
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)10.35%4.18%