Shell Raises Dividend As Q1 Earnings Jump On Higher Oil Prices

Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) reported on Thursday a surge in adjusted earnings for the first quarter and lifted its dividend by 4 percent as higher oil and gas prices and demand drove profits higher. Shell reported adjusted earnings of $3.23 billion for the first quarter of 2021, a surge from the $393 million earnings for the fourth quarter of 2020, and a rise from the Q1 2020 earnings of $2.86 billion. The expected and previously announced dividend increase is the second small dividend hike at Shell, which this time last year had slashed its dividend for…