Shell’s Profit “Slump” Still Produces Multi-Billion Dollar Payouts

Shell’s Profit “Slump” Still Produces Multi-Billion Dollar Payouts—Because Who Cares About the Planet When Investors Need a New Yacht?

In today’s episode of “Corporate Greed Knows No Bounds,” Shell—the gold standard of climate destruction—just announced a $3.5 billion stock buyback and a 4% dividend hike for its lucky investors. This, despite a so-called disappointing annual profit of a measly $23.7 billion—a figure that would make most companies pop champagne but apparently has Shell execs crying into their gold-plated handkerchiefs.

And who are the lucky fat cats cashing in? Oh, just the usual BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street, whose billions in holdings ensure that Shell keeps drilling, spilling, and billing the planet for the damage.

“Weak” Profits? Cry Us a River (Made of Oil, Obviously)

Yes, Shell’s 2024 earnings were only $23.7 billion, down from $28.25 billion last year. That’s a 16% drop, which, in normal industries, might trigger some belt-tightening. But Shell? Oh no, they still had enough cash to shovel another $3.5 billion into stock buybacks, because why invest in clean energy when you can keep your biggest investors drowning in cash?

This marks the 13th consecutive quarter of at least $3 billion in buybacks, proving once again that Shell will always prioritize stockholders over the climate, ethics, and basic human decency.

CEO Wael Sawan: Keeping Profits High, Ethics Low

Shell’s top boss, Wael Sawan, didn’t even try to hide the company’s shift away from anything remotely resembling sustainability. In his remarks, he bragged about cutting costs and doubling down on oil, gas, and biofuels while scaling back renewables. Because nothing says “responsible corporate leadership” like doubling down on the very thing that’s cooking the planet.

And if you were wondering whether Shell still pretends to care about green energy, they literally wrote off $1 billion on a failed U.S. offshore wind project, calling it a bad investment. Translation: if it doesn’t make billions instantly, Shell isn’t interested.

Meanwhile, Climate Change Rages On (But That’s Not Shell’s Problem!)

Greenpeace and other campaigners have been demanding that Shell and its fossil fuel cronies pay for the disasters they help create. Activist Elena Polisano put it bluntly:

“Oil companies like Shell are causing the climate crisis, and they have the billions necessary to fund the clean-up of homes and communities – yet they don’t pay a penny for the loss and damage they cause.”

And she’s right. Instead of compensating flood victims or funding climate adaptation, Shell and its greedy investor class keep siphoning cash into buybacks and dividends, ensuring their money machine keeps running at full speed.

The Bottom Line: Oil Profits First, Planet Last

Shell’s playbook is simple: cry about falling profits, reward investors anyway, and keep pumping fossil fuels like there’s no tomorrow (which, thanks to them, there might not be). And as long as BlackRock, Vanguard, and the rest of Wall Street’s fossil fuel enablers keep cashing in, nothing’s going to change.

So while the world burns, Shell’s investors can sit back, sip their cocktails, and watch their bank accounts grow—one environmental disaster at a time.

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.