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SHEL vs. WMB: Shell vs. Williams Stock Comparison

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

Williams (WMB) 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 Williams (WMB)
Profile ItemSHELWMB
NameShell plc American Depositary Shares (Each representing two Ordinary shares)The Williams Companies, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited KingdomUnited States
GICS SectorEnergyEnergy
GICS Industry GroupEnergyEnergy
GICS IndustryOil, Gas & Consumable FuelsOil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
GICS Sub-IndustryIntegrated Oil & GasOil & Gas Storage & Transportation
Market Capitalization280.59 billion USD80.11 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 12, 1984December 31, 1981
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

SHEL
WMB
GSPC
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Shell (SHEL) vs. Williams (WMB), 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 Williams (WMB). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Shell (SHEL) and Williams (WMB)
MetricSHELWMB
Total Return (1Y)36.30%14.81%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)19.93%28.70%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)21.02%23.72%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Shell (SHEL) and Williams (WMB)
MetricSHELWMB
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)23.60%26.38%
Beta (5Y)0.100.65
Max Drawdown (5Y)-25.04%-23.01%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.01M7.88M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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SHEL and WMB 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 Williams (WMB)
MetricSHELWMB
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.360.40
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.990.56

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Shell (SHEL) at 17.43% and Williams (WMB) at 18.31% 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%

WMB

Energy industry group

18.31%

Max
53.85%
Q3
24.79%
WMB
18.31%
Median
12.85%
Q1
2.03%
Min
-29.09%
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Shell (SHEL) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their ROE against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Williams (WMB) at 24.66% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Shell (SHEL) at 10.18%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

SHEL

Energy industry group

10.18%

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

WMB

Energy industry group

24.66%

Max
56.92%
WMB
24.66%
Q3
22.92%
Median
10.10%
Q1
0.07%
Min
-27.38%
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Shell (SHEL) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their net margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Shell (SHEL) at 18.76% and Williams (WMB) at 32.69% 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%

WMB

Energy industry group

32.69%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
WMB
32.69%
Median
18.73%
Q1
6.94%
Min
-24.52%
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Shell (SHEL) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their operating margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Shell (SHEL) and Williams (WMB)
MetricSHELWMB
ROE (TTM)17.43%18.31%
ROA (TTM)7.67%4.59%
Net Margin (TTM)10.18%24.66%
Operating Margin (TTM)18.76%32.69%
Gross Margin (TTM)26.93%63.05%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Shell (SHEL) at -6.13% and Williams (WMB) at 13.78% 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. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Shell (SHEL) at 18.58% and Williams (WMB) at 17.58% 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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Shell (SHEL) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Shell (SHEL) and Williams (WMB)
MetricSHELWMB
Revenue Growth (YoY)-6.13%13.78%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-11.21%2.91%
EPS Growth (YoY)18.58%17.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-19.31%8.62%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Shell (SHEL) at 1.38 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Williams (WMB) at 0.75 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for WMB.

SHEL

Energy industry group

1.38

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

WMB

Energy industry group

0.75

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
Median
1.41
Q1
0.88
WMB
0.75
Min
0.24
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Shell (SHEL) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their current ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Shell (SHEL) at 0.38 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Williams (WMB) at 1.58 uses more debt funding than most peers.

SHEL

Energy industry group

0.38

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

WMB

Energy industry group

1.58

Max
1.75
WMB
1.58
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
Q1
0.30
Min
0.00
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Shell (SHEL) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Shell (SHEL) and Williams (WMB)
MetricSHELWMB
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.380.75
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.381.58
Net Debt / EBITDA0.594.58

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Shell (SHEL) at 1.54% and Williams (WMB) at 3.23% 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%

WMB

Energy industry group

3.23%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
WMB
3.23%
Median
1.71%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Shell (SHEL) vs. Williams (WMB): 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 Williams (WMB) at 81.69% 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%

WMB

Energy industry group

81.69%

Max
133.24%
WMB
81.69%
Q3
53.31%
Median
25.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Shell (SHEL) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Shell (SHEL) and Williams (WMB)
MetricSHELWMB
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.54%3.23%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)26.24%81.69%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Shell (SHEL) at 8.60 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Williams (WMB) at 25.23 sits in the richer quartile — WMB 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

WMB

Energy industry group

25.23

Max
39.54
WMB
25.23
Q3
21.72
Median
12.19
Q1
7.71
Min
2.99
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Shell (SHEL) vs. Williams (WMB): 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 Williams (WMB) at 6.32 prices above its industry range — a wide gap in sales valuation between them.

SHEL

Energy industry group

0.87

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

WMB

Energy industry group

6.32

WMB
6.32
Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
Median
1.69
Q1
0.88
Min
0.00
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Shell (SHEL) vs. Williams (WMB): 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 Williams (WMB) at 5.11 prices above its benchmark range — WMB looks rich relative to book.

SHEL

Energy industry group

1.43

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

WMB

Energy industry group

5.11

WMB
5.11
Max
4.21
Q3
2.38
Median
1.51
Q1
1.08
Min
0.01
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Shell (SHEL) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Shell (SHEL) and Williams (WMB)
MetricSHELWMB
P/E Ratio (TTM)8.6025.23
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.876.32
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.435.11
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)10.35%-3.56%