Shell's Q1 profit surges past expectations. The energy giant reported adjusted earnings of $6.92 billion, beating analyst consensus of $6.1 billion, as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East sent oil prices soaring approximately 40 percent since late February. The Iran conflict has created unprecedented disruption in global energy markets, with the Strait of Hormuz emerging as a critical supply vulnerability. Shell's strong performance reflects higher fossil fuel prices rather than increased production volumes. The company reduced its quarterly share buyback to $3 billion from $3.5 billion while raising its dividend by 5 percent to $0.3906 per share. Net debt increased to $52.6 billion from $45.7 billion at year-end, primarily due to working capital effects from elevated oil prices. The results come alongside Shell's $16.
