Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare BP p.l.c. (BP) 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 | BP | 0.3% revenue growth vs SHEL's -5.9% |
| Value | SHEL | Lower P/E (13.4x vs 14.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | SHEL | 6.7% net margin vs BP's 0.0% |
| Stability / Safety | SHEL | Beta 0.64 vs BP's 0.70, lower leverage |
| Dividends | BP | 4.9% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs SHEL's 3.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | SHEL | +28.1% vs BP's +23.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SHEL | 4.8% ROA vs BP's 0.0%, ROIC 9.9% vs 9.8% |
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
BP is a global integrated oil and gas company that explores for, produces, refines, and markets petroleum products while increasingly investing in low-carbon energy. It makes money primarily through oil and gas production (~60% of profits), refining and trading, and its global retail fuel and convenience network. The company's scale, integrated operations—from wells to gas stations—and growing low-carbon portfolio provide its competitive advantage in the energy transition.
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
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
SHEL leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). BP leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
SHEL and BP operate at a comparable scale, with $267.5B and $189.2B in trailing revenue. SHEL is the more profitable business, keeping 6.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BP's 0.0%. On growth, BP holds the edge at +3.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | BPBP p.l.c. | SHELShell plc |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $189.2B | $267.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $38.6B | $53.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $60M | $17.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $11.3B | $22.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +20.2% | +16.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +10.9% | +11.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +0.0% | +6.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +6.0% | +8.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +3.4% | -1.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -78.4% | +3.7% |
Valuation Metrics
At 13.9x trailing earnings, SHEL trades at a 99% valuation discount to BP's 1904.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, BP's 4.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SHEL's 5.9x.
| Metric | BPBP p.l.c. | SHELShell plc |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $99.5B | $235.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $147.3B | $310.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 1904.90x | 13.87x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 14.85x | 13.40x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 4.41x | 5.85x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.52x | 0.88x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.39x | 1.42x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 8.81x | 10.81x |
Profitability & Efficiency
SHEL delivers a 10.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $10 in annual profit, vs $0 for BP. SHEL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.60x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to BP's 1.14x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BP scores 7/9 vs SHEL's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | BPBP p.l.c. | SHELShell plc |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +0.1% | +10.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.0% | +4.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +9.8% | +9.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.8% | +10.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.14x | 0.60x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $47.7B | $74.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $36.6B | $30.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $84.3B | $104.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.70x | 6.98x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in SHEL five years ago would be worth $23,319 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $19,171 for BP. Over the past 12 months, SHEL leads with a +28.1% total return vs BP's +23.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SHEL at 14.7% vs BP's 3.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | BPBP p.l.c. | SHELShell plc |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +9.8% | +11.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +23.3% | +28.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +12.1% | +51.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +91.7% | +133.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +100.6% | +146.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +3.9% | +14.7% |
Risk & Volatility
SHEL is the less volatile stock with a 0.64 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BP's 0.70 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | BPBP p.l.c. | SHELShell plc |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.70x | 0.64x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $39.51 | $83.67 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $25.22 | $58.55 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.4% | +99.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 52.4 | 60.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 8.0M | 4.8M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates BP as "Hold" and SHEL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 2.6% upside for SHEL (target: $86) vs 1.9% for BP (target: $40). For income investors, BP offers the higher dividend yield at 4.92% vs SHEL's 3.42%.
| Metric | BPBP p.l.c. | SHELShell plc |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $39.58 | $85.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 43 | 12 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.9% | +3.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 4 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.91 | $2.85 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.5% | +6.5% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BP p.l.c. (BP) | 100 | 116.97 | +17.0% |
| Shell plc (SHEL) | 100 | 168.93 | +68.9% |
Shell plc (SHEL) returned +133% over 5 years vs BP p.l.c. (BP)'s +92%. A $10,000 investment in SHEL 5 years ago would be worth $23,319 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BP p.l.c. (BP) | $183.0B | $189.8B | +3.7% |
| Shell plc (SHEL) | $233.6B | $267.5B | +14.5% |
BP p.l.c.'s revenue grew from $183.0B (2016) to $189.8B (2025) — a 0.4% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BP p.l.c. (BP) | 0.1% | 0.0% | -53.8% |
| Shell plc (SHEL) | 2.0% | 6.7% | +241.3% |
BP p.l.c.'s net margin went from 0% (2016) to 0% (2025). Shell plc's net margin went from 2% (2016) to 7% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BP p.l.c. (BP) | 40.8 | 211.1 | +417.4% |
| Shell plc (SHEL) | 21.4 | 12.2 | -43.0% |
BP p.l.c. has traded in a 7x–211x P/E range over 6 years; current trailing P/E is ~1905x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BP p.l.c. (BP) | 0.04 | 0.02 | -43.3% |
| Shell plc (SHEL) | 1.16 | 6.02 | +419.0% |
BP p.l.c.'s EPS grew from $0.04 (2016) to $0.02 (2025) — a -6% CAGR. Shell plc's EPS grew from $1.16 (2016) to $6.02 (2025) — a 20% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
BP p.l.c. generated $11B FCF in 2025 (-11% vs 2021). Shell plc generated $22B FCF in 2025 (-16% vs 2021).
BP vs SHEL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BP 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 Shell plc (SHEL) a "Buy" — based on 12 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 — BP or SHEL?
On trailing P/E, Shell plc (SHEL) is the cheapest at 13.9x versus BP p.l.c. at 1904.9x. On forward P/E, Shell plc is actually cheaper at 13.4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — BP or SHEL?
Over the past 5 years, Shell plc (SHEL) delivered a total return of +133.2%, compared to +91.7% for BP p.l.c. (BP). A $10,000 investment in SHEL five years ago would be worth approximately $23K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SHEL returned +146.2% versus BP's +100.6%. 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 — BP or SHEL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Shell plc (SHEL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.64β versus BP p.l.c.'s 0.70β — meaning BP is approximately 9% more volatile than SHEL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Shell plc (SHEL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 60% versus 114% for BP p.l.c. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — BP or SHEL?
Shell plc (SHEL) is the more profitable company, earning 6.7% net margin versus 0.0% for BP p.l.c. — meaning it keeps 6.7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SHEL leads at 11.5% versus 8.2% for BP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BP leads at 17.4%, 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 BP or SHEL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Shell plc (SHEL) trades at 13.4x forward P/E versus 14.9x for BP p.l.c. — 1.5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SHEL: 2.6% to $85.67.
07Which pays a better dividend — BP or SHEL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. BP p.l.c. (BP) offers the highest yield at 4.9%, versus 3.4% for Shell plc (SHEL).
08Is BP 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%, BP: +100.6%), 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 BP 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. In terms of investment character: BP is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; SHEL is a large-cap deep-value stock. 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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