Even Royal Dutch Shell Couldn't Outperform in Q4 2019

Oil major Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) (NYSE: RDS.B) reported fourth-quarter and full-year 2019 earnings on Jan. 30, and despite CEO Ben van Beurden's focus on "good cash flow," most of the report was decidedly gloomy. Shares opened about 3% lower as investors digested the bad news. 

In past quarters, Shell managed to outperform despite challenging environments thanks to the strength of its gas business as oil prices were falling, or a lucky lack of North American refining capacity when margins there were weak. But in Q4, things were tough across the industry, and there was nowhere for Shell to hide. 

Here's what investors need to know.

Continue reading

Source Fool.com