Virtu Financial LLC Invests $5.15 Million in Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL)

Virtu Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL - Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 78,148 shares of the energy company's stock, valued at approximately $5,154,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in SHEL. Hobbs Group Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Shell in the second quarter valued at $26,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC acquired a new position in shares of Shell in the 3rd quarter valued at about $30,000. Triad Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Shell during the second quarter worth approximately $31,000. Fairscale Capital LLC bought a new stake in Shell in the second quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Valley Wealth Managers Inc. bought a new position in shares of Shell during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Institutional investors own 28.60% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Barclays upgraded shares of Shell to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Scotiabank decreased their target price on Shell from $90.00 to $80.00 and set a "sector outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. Citigroup upgraded Shell to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Shell from $88.00 to $87.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein raised shares of Shell to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, October 11th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and three have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $81.75.

Shell Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE SHEL traded down $0.44 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $64.09. The company's stock had a trading volume of 3,050,845 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,200,080. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 1.40 and a quick ratio of 1.13. The stock has a market capitalization of $198.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.28, a PEG ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 0.55. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $66.42 and a 200-day moving average price of $69.21. Shell plc has a 12-month low of $60.34 and a 12-month high of $74.61.

Shell Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 19th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.688 per share. This represents a $2.75 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 15th. Shell's payout ratio is 56.58%.

About Shell

Shell plc operates as an energy and petrochemical company Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, the United States, and Rest of the Americas. The company operates through Integrated Gas, Upstream, Marketing, Chemicals and Products, and Renewables and Energy Solutions segments. It explores for and extracts crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids; markets and transports oil and gas; produces gas-to-liquids fuels and other products; and operates upstream and midstream infrastructure to deliver gas to market.