Shell (NYSE:SHEL) repurchased 1,978,677 shares for cancellation on 22 May 2026 across LSE, Chi-X and BATS.
According to Shell, these trades are part of the share buy-back programme running from 7 May 2026 to 24 July 2026, executed by Goldman Sachs International within preset parameters and MAR rules.
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Positive
Repurchase of 1,978,677 shares for cancellation on 22 May 2026
Buy-back programme active from 7 May 2026 to 24 July 2026
Use of Goldman Sachs International as independent broker for trading decisions
Transactions executed under EU MAR and UK MAR regulatory frameworks
Negative
None.
News Market Reaction – SHEL
-0.79%
-0.79%News Effect
On the day this news was published, SHEL declined 0.79%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.
This announcement details further execution of Shell’s authorised buy-back, with millions of shares ...
Analysis
This announcement details further execution of Shell’s authorised buy-back, with millions of shares repurchased for cancellation on multiple UK trading venues at prices just above £32. The activity forms part of a pre-announced programme running from 7 May 2026 to 24 July 2026, executed independently by Goldman Sachs International under EU and UK MAR rules. In context with recent 6-K filings, it reinforces Shell’s ongoing use of structured repurchases as a capital management tool.
Repurchased 225,000 shares on LSE at a defined VWAP within programme rules.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Pattern Detected
Recent disclosures show a steady cadence of buy-backs and management share transactions, with mixed short-term price reactions that do not consistently track the ostensibly supportive nature of repurchases.
Recent Company History
Over the past week, Shell has repeatedly reported on its capital return activity and related management share dealings. Several "Transaction in Own Shares" updates detailed repurchases between 19–21 May 2026, with buy-back volumes ranging from 225,000 to nearly 1.9 million shares and prices in the low-£30s. Parallel director/PDMR filings covered a CEO share disposal and performance share awards under the Shell Share Plan 2023. Taken together, the current 22 May buyback disclosure continues this pattern of frequent, programmatic repurchase updates within a defined capital return framework.
Key Terms
share buy-back programme, trading venue, eu mar, uk mar
4 terms
share buy-back programmefinancial
"These share purchases form part of the Company's share buy-back programme..."
A share buy-back programme is when a company purchases its own shares from the market. This reduces the total number of shares available, which can increase the value of remaining shares and signal confidence in the company's future. For investors, it can be a sign that the company believes its stock is undervalued and may lead to higher share prices.
trading venuetechnical
"Aggregated information on Shares purchased according to trading venue:"
A trading venue is any organized place or system where buyers and sellers meet to swap stocks, bonds or other securities, like a physical market or an online exchange. It matters to investors because the venue determines how easily orders are filled, how quickly prices move, what rules and fees apply, and how transparent pricing is — much like choosing a busy bazaar versus a small shop affects price, speed and cost.
eu marregulatory
"dealing with buy-back programmes ("EU MAR") and EU MAR as "onshored" into UK law..."
EU MAR is the European Union’s Market Abuse Regulation, a set of rules designed to keep financial markets fair by stopping insider trading and market manipulation and by requiring timely, accurate public disclosure of inside information. Think of it as traffic laws for trading: it sets who can share sensitive information, how it must be disclosed, and penalties for breaking the rules, which matters to investors because stronger rules reduce surprises, boost trust, and affect companies’ legal and reporting costs.
uk marregulatory
"from time to time ("UK MAR") and the Commission Delegated Regulation..."
UK MAR is the UK Market Abuse Regulation, a set of laws designed to prevent insider trading, market manipulation and other dishonest practices in financial markets while setting rules for how companies must disclose important information. It matters to investors because it helps ensure a fair playing field and timely, reliable disclosures so price changes reflect real news rather than secret deals—think of it as the rulebook that keeps the market honest and predictable.
Shell plc (the 'Company') announces that on 22 May, 2026 it purchased the following number of Shares for cancellation.
Aggregated information on Shares purchased according to trading venue:
Date of Purchase
Number of Shares purchased
Highest price paid
Lowest price paid
Volume weighted average price paid per share
Venue
Currency
22/05/2026
1,360,000
£ 32.3950
£ 31.9250
£ 32.1707
LSE
GBP
22/05/2026
340,000
£ 32.3950
£ 31.9250
£ 32.1690
Chi-X (CXE)
GBP
22/05/2026
278,677
£ 32.3900
£ 31.9300
£ 32.1431
BATS (BXE)
GBP
These share purchases form part of the Company's share buy-back programme previously announced on 7 May 2026.
In respect of this programme, Goldman Sachs International will make trading decisions in relation to the securities independently of the Company for a period from 7 May 2026 up to and including 24 July 2026.
Any such share purchases will be effected within certain pre-set parameters and in accordance with the Company's general authority to repurchase shares. The programme will be conducted in accordance with Chapter 9 of the UK Listing Rules and Article 5 of the Market Abuse Regulation 596/2014/EU dealing with buy-back programmes ("EU MAR") and EU MAR as "onshored" into UK law from the end of the Brexit transition period (at 11:00 pm on 31 December 2020) through the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended by the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020), and as amended, supplemented, restated, novated, substituted or replaced by the Financial Services Act, 2021 and relevant statutory instruments (including, The Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (SI 2019/310)), from time to time ("UK MAR") and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 (the "EU MAR Delegated Regulation") and the EU MAR Delegated Regulation as "onshored" into UK law from the end of the Brexit transition period (at 11:00 pm on 31 December 2020) through the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended by the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020), and as amended, supplemented, restated, novated, substituted or replaced by the Financial Services Act, 2021 and relevant statutory instruments (including, The Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (SI 2019/310)), from time to time.
In accordance with EU MAR and UK MAR, a breakdown of the individual trades made by Goldman Sachs International on behalf of the Company as a part of the buy-back programme is detailed below.
How many Shell (NYSE:SHEL) shares were bought back on 22 May 2026?
Shell repurchased 1,978,677 shares for cancellation on 22 May 2026. According to Shell, the trades were split across LSE, Chi-X (CXE) and BATS (BXE) as part of its ongoing share buy-back programme.
What prices did Shell (SHEL) pay in its 22 May 2026 share buyback?
Shell paid highest prices up to £32.3950 and lowest prices down to about £31.9250 per share. According to Shell, volume-weighted average prices ranged around £32.17 on LSE, £32.17 on Chi-X, and £32.14 on BATS.
What is the timeline of Shell's 2026 share buyback programme (SHEL)?
Shell’s current share buyback programme runs from 7 May 2026 through 24 July 2026. According to Shell, Goldman Sachs International will independently make trading decisions within preset parameters for this period, repurchasing shares under the company’s general authority.
Who executes Shell’s 2026 share repurchases and how independent is it?
Goldman Sachs International executes Shell’s share repurchases and makes trading decisions independently. According to Shell, this arrangement applies from 7 May 2026 to 24 July 2026, with trades carried out within preset parameters under the company’s buyback authority.
On which trading venues did Shell (SHEL) repurchase shares on 22 May 2026?
Shell repurchased shares on the London Stock Exchange, Chi-X (CXE) and BATS (BXE) on 22 May 2026. According to Shell, each venue had its own volume-weighted average repurchase price in pounds sterling.
Is Shell’s May–July 2026 share buyback compliant with EU MAR and UK MAR?
Shell states that its buyback is conducted under Chapter 9 of the UK Listing Rules and Article 5 of EU MAR. According to Shell, trades follow both onshored UK MAR and the related delegated regulation requirements for buy-back programmes.