NEW YORK, Feb 19, 2026, 03:06 EST — Premarket
- Shell’s U.S.-listed shares climbed roughly 2.5% following Wednesday’s close.
- Oil kept climbing, with traders factoring Middle East shipping risks into crude prices.
- Eyes turn to U.S. inventory numbers due later Thursday, while Shell’s buyback tempo is also in focus.
Shell Plc’s U.S.-listed stock climbed 2.5% to $79.87 after hours, suggesting the oil major could start stronger as crude prices pushed higher again on new geopolitical headlines.
Brent was up near $70.59 a barrel, while U.S. WTI hovered around $65.47 during Asian trading. The Strait of Hormuz stayed in the spotlight following several tense days between the U.S. and Iran. “Tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high, but the prevailing view is that full-scale armed conflict is unlikely,” said Hiroyuki Kikukawa, chief strategist at Nissan Securities Investment. Reuters
That’s especially relevant for Shell at the moment—shares have reverted to moving in lockstep with crude, and the latest surge followed oil’s jump of more than 4% on Wednesday, reaching highs last seen in late January. Right now, prices reflect a “risk premium” as traders shell out more for contracts, hedging against possible supply shocks. Reuters
Shell shares wrapped up Wednesday’s session in London with a 2.16% gain at 29.29 pounds, not far from their 52-week peak. The advance came as the FTSE 100 index moved higher.
Shell reported yet another round of share buybacks, confirming it picked up stock on Feb. 18 for cancellation as part of its current repurchase plan.
The company’s current buyback stands at $3.5 billion, aimed at trimming issued share capital. The program is expected to last about three months, depending on market conditions.
Shell stuck with its buyback program after missing profit forecasts in its Feb. 5 quarterly report and bumped up its dividend by 4%. The latest round of capital returns comes on the heels of that update.
Shell set March 12 for its annual report and Form 20-F, according to its published schedule. The company also marked March 16 for an LNG outlook and portfolio spotlight. First-quarter results and dividends are slated for May 7.
Crude remains the key short-term driver here. For Shell bulls, there’s a hitch: the so-called oil “Iran premium” could unwind in a hurry if negotiations cool off — or if traders simply stop pricing in the worst-case supply threats. Reuters
Investors are set to comb through fresh U.S. government inventory numbers Thursday, with reports landing at 12:00 p.m. and again at 2:00 p.m. Eastern—timings pushed by the EIA’s holiday-adjusted calendar.
