RE: I need this to be 1p soon29 Mar 2026 15:34
@djwall there is no comparison.
BP
Massive Company Size and Capitalization: As one of the world's "supermajor" oil and gas companies, BP requires an enormous capital base to operate. A high share count helps keep the price per share lower, making it accessible to a wider range of investors, from large institutions to retail shareholders.
Historical Acquisitions and Mergers: Over the past decades, BP has grown through massive mergers and acquisitions (such as the acquisition of Amoco and ARCO). These deals were often financed through the issuance of new equity, which increased the total number of shares outstanding.
Lower Stock Price Strategy: Spreading the company's value over a larger number of shares often results in a lower, more palatable nominal share price, often preferred by retail investors compared to a high-priced share.
Limited Buyback Effectiveness: While BP frequently uses share buybacks to return cash to shareholders and reduce the share count, the scale of these buybacks is often small relative to the total number of shares in circulation. Furthermore, as of February 2026, BP suspended its share buyback program to prioritize paying down debt.
Dividend Strategy: A large share count is a natural result of a mature firm that consistently pays dividends rather than reinvesting 100% of its cash flow.
Does HE1 tick any of those boxes apart from the 50% acquisition in the Galactica project which in no way compares to the large number of BP acquisitions.