Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) vs Shell plc (SHEL) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SU | -3.6% revenue growth vs SHEL's -5.9% |
| Value | SHEL | Lower P/E (13.4x vs 14.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | SU | 11.9% net margin vs SHEL's 6.7% |
| Stability / Safety | SHEL | Beta 0.64 vs SU's 0.73 |
| Dividends | SHEL | 3.4% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs SU's 3.0% |
| Momentum (1Y) | SU | +52.0% vs SHEL's +28.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SU | 6.6% ROA vs SHEL's 4.8%, ROIC 10.4% vs 9.9% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Suncor Energy is an integrated Canadian energy company that develops oil sands resources and operates across the full energy value chain. It generates revenue primarily from oil sands production (~60% of operating earnings), complemented by exploration and production assets, and refining/marketing operations through its Petro-Canada retail network. The company's key advantage is its integrated business model—controlling production, upgrading, refining, and retail distribution—which provides operational stability and cost efficiencies across volatile energy cycles.
Shell is a global integrated energy company that explores for, produces, refines, and markets oil, natural gas, and petrochemical products. It generates revenue primarily through its upstream oil and gas production (~40% of earnings), integrated gas and LNG operations (~30%), and downstream marketing and chemicals businesses (~30%). The company's competitive advantage lies in its massive scale, integrated value chain—from production to retail—and leading positions in liquefied natural gas and deepwater exploration.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
SU leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). SHEL leads in 3 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
SHEL is the larger business by revenue, generating $267.5B annually — 5.4x SU's $49.7B. SU is the more profitable business, keeping 11.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SHEL's 6.7%.
| Metric | SUSuncor Energy Inc. | SHELShell plc |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $49.7B | $267.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $15.5B | $53.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $5.9B | $17.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $6.9B | $22.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +42.7% | +16.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +16.1% | +11.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.9% | +6.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +13.9% | +8.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -4.0% | -1.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +89.2% | +3.7% |
Valuation Metrics
At 13.9x trailing earnings, SHEL trades at a 13% valuation discount to SU's 15.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, SHEL's 5.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SU's 6.9x.
| Metric | SUSuncor Energy Inc. | SHELShell plc |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $67.3B | $235.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $78.0B | $310.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 15.95x | 13.87x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 14.81x | 13.40x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.90x | 5.85x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.88x | 0.88x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.09x | 1.42x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.30x | 10.81x |
Profitability & Efficiency
SU delivers a 13.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $13 in annual profit, vs $10 for SHEL. SU carries lower financial leverage with a 0.41x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SHEL's 0.60x.
| Metric | SUSuncor Energy Inc. | SHELShell plc |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +13.1% | +10.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.6% | +4.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.4% | +9.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.1% | +10.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.41x | 0.60x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $14.7B | $74.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3.6B | $30.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $18.4B | $104.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 12.93x | 6.98x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in SU five years ago would be worth $31,433 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $23,319 for SHEL. Over the past 12 months, SU leads with a +52.0% total return vs SHEL's +28.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SU at 22.2% vs SHEL's 14.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SUSuncor Energy Inc. | SHELShell plc |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +24.0% | +11.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +52.0% | +28.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +82.6% | +51.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +214.3% | +133.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +181.2% | +146.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +22.2% | +14.7% |
Risk & Volatility
SHEL is the less volatile stock with a 0.64 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SU's 0.73 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | SUSuncor Energy Inc. | SHELShell plc |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.73x | 0.64x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $57.13 | $83.67 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $30.79 | $58.55 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.9% | +99.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 61.8 | 60.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.2M | 4.8M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SU as "Buy" and SHEL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 9.7% upside for SU (target: $62) vs 2.6% for SHEL (target: $86). For income investors, SHEL offers the higher dividend yield at 3.42% vs SU's 2.97%.
| Metric | SUSuncor Energy Inc. | SHELShell plc |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $62.00 | $85.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 31 | 12 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.0% | +3.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 4 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.30 | $2.85 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.4% | +6.5% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) | 100 | 190.11 | +90.1% |
| Shell plc (SHEL) | 100 | 168.93 | +68.9% |
Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) returned +214% over 5 years vs Shell plc (SHEL)'s +133%. A $10,000 investment in SU 5 years ago would be worth $31,433 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) | $26.8B | $48.9B | +82.3% |
| Shell plc (SHEL) | $233.6B | $267.5B | +14.5% |
Suncor Energy Inc.'s revenue grew from $26.8B (2016) to $48.9B (2025) — a 6.9% CAGR. Shell plc's revenue grew from $233.6B (2016) to $267.5B (2025) — a 1.5% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) | 1.6% | 12.1% | +647.4% |
| Shell plc (SHEL) | 2.0% | 6.7% | +241.3% |
Suncor Energy Inc.'s net margin went from 2% (2016) to 12% (2025). Shell plc's net margin went from 2% (2016) to 7% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) | 13.7 | 9.1 | -33.6% |
| Shell plc (SHEL) | 21.4 | 12.2 | -43.0% |
Suncor Energy Inc. has traded in a 5x–18x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~16x. Shell plc has traded in a 5x–21x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~14x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) | 0.27 | 4.85 | +1696.3% |
| Shell plc (SHEL) | 1.16 | 6.02 | +419.0% |
Suncor Energy Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.27 (2016) to $4.85 (2025) — a 38% CAGR. Shell plc's EPS grew from $1.16 (2016) to $6.02 (2025) — a 20% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Suncor Energy Inc. generated $7B FCF in 2025 (-4% vs 2021). Shell plc generated $22B FCF in 2025 (-16% vs 2021).
SU vs SHEL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SU or SHEL a better buy right now?
Shell plc (SHEL) offers the better valuation at 13.9x trailing P/E (13.4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) a "Buy" — based on 31 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — SU or SHEL?
On trailing P/E, Shell plc (SHEL) is the cheapest at 13.9x versus Suncor Energy Inc. at 15.9x. On forward P/E, Shell plc is actually cheaper at 13.4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SU or SHEL?
Over the past 5 years, Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) delivered a total return of +214.3%, compared to +133.2% for Shell plc (SHEL). A $10,000 investment in SU five years ago would be worth approximately $31K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SU returned +181.2% versus SHEL's +146.2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — SU or SHEL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Shell plc (SHEL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.64β versus Suncor Energy Inc.'s 0.73β — meaning SU is approximately 14% more volatile than SHEL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 41% versus 60% for Shell plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — SU or SHEL?
Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) is the more profitable company, earning 12.1% net margin versus 6.7% for Shell plc — meaning it keeps 12.1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SU leads at 16.3% versus 11.5% for SHEL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SU leads at 43.4%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is SU or SHEL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Shell plc (SHEL) trades at 13.4x forward P/E versus 14.8x for Suncor Energy Inc. — 1.4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SU: 9.7% to $62.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — SU or SHEL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Shell plc (SHEL) offers the highest yield at 3.4%, versus 3.0% for Suncor Energy Inc. (SU).
08Is SU or SHEL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Shell plc (SHEL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.64), 3.4% yield, +146.2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SHEL: +146.2%, SU: +181.2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between SU and SHEL?
Both stocks operate in the Energy sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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