London, Jan 18, 2026, 21:45 GMT — The market has closed.
- Shell shares closed Friday a touch up in London, while U.S. ADRs climbed 1.1%
- Reuters reported that Shell is considering selling a portion of its stake in LNG Canada
- Investors are also factoring in ongoing buybacks amid a crude market still heavily influenced by headlines
Shell (SHEL.L) starts the week with speculation swirling around its Canadian LNG assets, following a Reuters report that the company is weighing a sale of part of its stake in the LNG Canada project. As the largest shareholder with a 40% share, Shell has reportedly been gauging interest via Rothschild and might sell up to 30% of the venture. Mitsubishi, holding 15%, is also considering its options. On Friday, Shell’s shares in London edged up 0.2% to 2,752.5 pence, while its U.S.-listed ADRs (SHEL) gained 1.1%, closing at $74.25.
Why it matters now: LNG stands as a key growth driver for Shell, with LNG Canada among the rare large-scale export facilities operating on North America’s Pacific coast. Scaling back its stake would directly fuel investor concerns about how much capital Shell plans to lock into major projects and the speed at which it can return cash through dividends and share buybacks.
The timing is tense for energy markets. Oil prices have swung dramatically amid geopolitical shifts this month. Shell’s shares usually follow that momentum—half commodity proxy, half capital-return play—though every now and then, a deal announcement can steal the spotlight for a day or two.
Shell announced on Friday it repurchased 655,057 shares in London and 523,698 in Amsterdam, which will be cancelled under its current buyback programme. When a company buys its own shares, it reduces the total number outstanding, potentially boosting the value of each remaining share.
Crude wrapped up the week with gains, though the action wasn’t smooth. Brent closed Friday at $64.13 a barrel, up 0.6%, while U.S. crude ended at $59.44, rising 0.4%. Traders were busy adjusting positions ahead of the U.S. Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. “Buying today seems to be people not wanting to be caught short over the long weekend,” said Phil Flynn, senior analyst at Price Futures Group. John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital, attributed the move to short-covering before the break. Reuters
For Shell, two clear factors remain: the direction oil prices take once liquidity returns, and how the LNG Canada report is received—whether it sparks confirmation, challenges, or sheds more light on its structure and valuation.
But risks remain. Talks about selling stakes might never lead to a deal, and a persistent gap between seller asking prices and buyer offers could drag on. If crude prices fall due to easing geopolitical tensions or new supply forecasts, the stock could quickly lose the boost from buybacks.
Shell’s next major event is earnings day. The company will release its fourth-quarter results and announce an interim dividend on Feb. 5. This date will be critical for gauging cash flow, shareholder payouts, and whether management plans to shuffle assets.
