Shell (SHEL) eyes bigger shareholder payouts with LNG bets, leaner spending. (00:24) Tesla’s (TSLA) Europe sales plummet again, market share shrinks amid anti-Musk backlash. (01:32) Krispy Kreme (DNUT) expands to Brazil as the brand continues to eye global opportunities. (02:34)Episode transcripts seekingalpha.com/wsb.Show links: Biggest stock movers Thursday: DJT, KBH, and moreAlibaba sees signs of potential AI bubble in US; plans to resume hiring - reportEnd of the road: Kenworth to discontinue iconic W900 truck after 6 decadesBYD Company’s revenue tops $100 billion in FY24Sign up for our daily newsletter here and for full access to analyst ratings, stock quant scores, dividend grades, subscribe to Seeking Alpha Premium at seekingalpha.com/subscriptions.
Full Episode
Welcome to Seeking Alpha's Wall Street Breakfast, where we cover the top news for investors every morning. Good morning. Today is Tuesday, March 25th. I'm Julie Morgan. Shell ramps up shareholder returns while tightening costs. Tesla's European sales continue to skid. And Krispy Kreme lands in Brazil.
Ahead of its Capital Markets Day 2025 event, Shell announced plans to boost shareholder returns through the end of the decade, emphasizing share buybacks while maintaining a 4% per annum progressive dividend policy.
plans to expand its liquefied natural gas sales by 4 to 5% annually until 2030, while lowering its spending to $20 to $22 billion per year through 2028 in a bid to deliver more value with less emissions. The London-based energy firm also plans to expand top-line production across its combined upstream and integrated gas business by 1% per year to 2030.
These efforts will enable Shell to boost shareholder distributions from 30-40% previously to 40-50% of cash flow from operations. The company has also increased its structural cost reduction target from $2 to $3 billion by the end of this year to a cumulative $5 to $7 billion by the end of 2028 compared to 2022.
Sales of new Tesla cars in Europe plunged again in February amid buyer backlash over its CEO's role in Donald Trump's administration, with market share down year on year. The company registered 16,888 new cars in February, down 40% from a year ago, with market shares now at 1.8% from 2.8% last year. This is according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.
Tesla's sales plunged nearly 43% in the first two months of the year, while industry-wide new battery electric car sales grew by 28.4% in the same period. capturing 15.2% of total EU market share. European electric car sales were up 26% this February compared to the same month last year. If you remember, we told you that in January, Tesla's sales across Europe fell 45% to 9,945 units.
Krispy Kreme announced the company's official launch in Brazil to mark a milestone in the brand's global expansion. The chain will open its first shop in a neighborhood in Sao Paulo in late April. Krispy Kreme plans to use a Capital Light franchise strategy in Brazil in partnership with the largest chain of convenience stores in the country.
Currently, Krispy Kreme operates in 40 countries worldwide. utilizing a mix of company-owned stores, franchise partnerships, and retail distribution points. Shares of Krispy Kreme are down 45% year-to-date and are swapping hands close to their all-time low of $5.31. I gotta say that red hot donut sign gets me every time. I try not to even pass by Krispy Kreme.
Let's check out what's trending on Seeking Alpha. Alibaba sees signs of a potential AI bubble in the U.S. and plans to resume hiring, according to a report. The end of the road, Kenworth is discontinuing its iconic W900 truck after six decades. And BYD Company's revenue tops $100 billion in fiscal year 24. Our Catalyst Watch looks very light today.
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