![Light bulb with growing tree.](https://cdn-dfoll.nitrocdn.com/tSUsPcuDMaCDjkKGRxswpkeBalYirhyT/assets/images/optimized/rev-6b6fbab/www.fool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Green-thinking.jpg)
Picture supply: Getty Pictures
Investing £10,000 in Shell (LSE:SHEL) at immediately’s costs would purchase 343 shares. With the dividend at the moment at £1.08 per share, that may return round £370 in revenue this 12 months.
That’s within the quick time period. The actual query for buyers is what the dividend will appear to be because the world shifts in the direction of renewable vitality? I believe there are causes to be optimistic.
Declining oil
World oil demand is definitely pretty robust for the time being. After a major – however short-term – decline through the pandemic, oil consumption has largely recovered.
![](https://cdn-dfoll.nitrocdn.com/tSUsPcuDMaCDjkKGRxswpkeBalYirhyT/assets/images/optimized/rev-6b6fbab/www.fool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-07-at-08.16.57-1200x943.png)
Buyers needs to be cautious although. There’s quite a lot of uncertainty in regards to the shift to renewables, but it surely appears clear that the rise of electrical automobiles (EVs) makes it a query of ‘when’ slightly than ‘if’.
The Worldwide Power Company forecasts that EVs will displace round 12% of present oil demand by 2035. And that is one thing the likes of Shell must cope with.
Shell’s an oil enterprise in a world trying to transition to different vitality sources and that creates a risk to the long-term stability of its dividend. However the firm has a plan.
Concentrate on energy
Shell’s technique has been to concentrate on areas apart from photo voltaic and onshore wind era. The explanation’s easy – the corporate doesn’t imagine it has any aggressive benefit right here.
It’s tempting to assume this method will finally result in the agency being left behind. However this isn’t as apparent because it might sound, for 2 fundamental causes.
First, Shell isn’t fully avoiding these areas. Its plan is to take part in these areas by partnering with different operators which have benefits it doesn’t.
Second, the corporate’s specializing in areas the place it does have distinctive strengths. These embody liquefied pure fuel, deepwater vitality initiatives (together with offshore wind), and hydrogen.
Dividends
Okay, so what does all of this imply for Shell’s dividend going ahead? Whereas there are some clear dangers, there’s quite a bit for buyers to really feel optimistic about.
Within the medium time period, oil demand may effectively maintain the corporate’s shareholder returns. EVs are most likely the largest risk, however the price of adoption’s been slowing.
Past that, Shell has alternatives to take part within the shift to renewables. And it has the self-discipline to keep away from errors by investing in areas the place it has no benefit.
In that spirit, the corporate’s been shopping for again its personal shares. A decrease excellent share rely additionally helps make the dividend sustainable on a per-share foundation.
A inventory to think about shopping for?
Shell’s method to onshore wind and photo voltaic era makes it straightforward to assume the enterprise goes to be left behind within the vitality transition. However the actuality isn’t so easy.
The corporate’s aiming to concentrate on areas the place it has distinct benefits and keep away from ones the place it doesn’t. This isn’t the identical factor as not avoiding the house fully.
If this technique works, it ought to permit Shell to offer revenue to shareholders for a very long time. At a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 13, I believe it’s value contemplating.