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Canadian Natural Resources Ltd(CNQ)

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ADVISORIES YOU CAN VERIFY
QUALITY SIGNAL RECENCY
2-STAR RATING
Consider higher Upturn Star rating
BUY for 43 days
PROFIT SINCE LAST BUY
+3.5%
LAST CLOSE
$47.64
09/23/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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Upturn Advisory & Investor View for CNQ

09/23/2026: CNQ (2-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd is a prominent, independent energy company primarily focused on oil and gas exploration and production, with a significant asset base in the Canadian oil sands. The company is known for its robust, long-life assets, low operating costs, and integrated infrastructure, which provide a solid foundation for consistent cash flow generation. Its primary investment story centers on its ability to sustain production and provide reliable dividends. Key risks include exposure to volatile global commodity prices, potential regulatory challenges, and the long-term energy transition. The stock is best suited for dividend-focused and value-oriented investors who can tolerate commodity-related cyclicality.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitGrowth is largely driven by asset maturity and commodity prices rather than aggressive expansion.
Momentum investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveMomentum investors may find opportunities during periods of sustained energy price rallies.
Value investorStrong fitThe company often trades at valuations reflecting its long-life, high-quality asset base.
Dividend investorStrong fitThe company's commitment to consistent base and supplemental dividends is a primary draw for income-focused investors.
Low-risk investorMixed fitWhile operations are stable, the stock remains sensitive to volatile global commodity prices.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighCompany earnings are directly tied to the unpredictable fluctuations of global oil and gas prices.
Valuation riskMediumAsset valuations fluctuate with market sentiment regarding the long-term future of fossil fuels.
Competition risk (Energy sector rivalry)MediumMaintaining cost competitiveness against peers is essential for long-term viability.
Business qualityStrongThe company holds a strong position due to its massive, long-life asset base in Canada.
Dividend incomeStrongA demonstrated history of returning capital supports reliability for income investors.
Execution riskMediumOperational delays or regulatory hurdles in large-scale energy projects can impact financial results.

Price Behavior

Strong Uptrend
PRICE PATH

Strong Uptrend

The stock has maintained a strong upward price trend across the last three quarters.

Moderately Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Moderately Choppy

The stock has experienced noticeable price swings while retaining some directional structure.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -35.41%
Avg. Invested days 26
Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 2.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 09/23/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

CNQ receives a 4-star rating, supported by solid company fundamentals, solid quantitative characteristics, and solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum, and limited analyst upside.

Company Fundamentals

CNQ has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with solid financial health, solid growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong earnings growth (+77.2%) and strong cash generation (FCF margin 19.1%) are partially offset by modest insider ownership of 2.16%.

Financial Health Rating

CNQ's financial health is supported by strong cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation of $8.4B (19.1% of revenue). Liquidity is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

Earnings growth is CNQ's strongest growth driver at +77.2% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, revenue growth (+23.9%, solid) is also solid, while free-cash-flow growth (+4.1%, moderate) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

Institutional ownership is 78.2% and approximately 97.7% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 2.16% provides only moderate management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Capital World Investors 10.57%
Royal Bank of Canada 6.05%
Capital Research Global Investors 5.63%
FMR Inc 4.13%
Bank of Montreal 3.14%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

CNQ generates approximately $213 of gross profit, $186 of operating income, and $191 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Strong cash conversion and healthy margins support the rating, although capital efficiency remains below the highest tier.

Economic Dimensions

Effective Tax Rate: 18.28%

Quantitative Style Profile

CNQ has a high-quality, large-cap, liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedQuality TiltLarge / Mega Cap StabilityHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Large-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 98.48B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 11.88
1Y Target Price 48.39
Price to earnings Ratio 11.88
1Y Target Price 48.39
Volume (30-day avg) 6.7M shares
Beta 0.88
52 Weeks Range 28.48 - 51.84
Updated Date 09/22/2026
52 Weeks Range 28.48 - 51.84
Updated Date 09/22/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 5.02%
Basic EPS (TTM) 4.02

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Crude Oil OperationsProduction of light, medium, and heavy crude, including bitumen from oil sands mining and in-situ recovery.The primary source of revenue, highly sensitive to global oil price benchmarks.
Natural Gas OperationsExploration and production of natural gas in Western Canada.Provides secondary revenue and is influenced by North American natural gas demand and pricing.
Infrastructure & MidstreamPipelines, storage, and upgrading facilities like Scotford.Enables efficient transport and processing, acting as a structural advantage for moving product to market.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE 11.88
Forward PE 14.03
Enterprise Value 110.28B
Price to Sales(TTM) 2.2
Enterprise Value 110.28B
Price to Sales(TTM) 2.2
Enterprise Value to Revenue 3
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 6.48
Shares Outstanding 2.06B
Shares Floating 2.01B
Shares Outstanding 2.06B
Shares Floating 2.01B
Percent Insiders 2.16
Percent Institutions 78.21

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Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

About Canadian Natural Resources Ltd

Exchange NYSE
Headquarters Calgary, AB, Canada
IPO Launch date 1976-05-17
CEO -
Sector Energy
Industry Oil & Gas E&P
Full time employees 10750
Full time employees 10750

Canadian Natural Resources Limited engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, production, marketing, and sale of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs) in Western Canada, the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea, and Offshore Africa. The company offers synthetic crude oil (SCO), mining bitumen, light and medium crude oil and NGLs, thermal bitumen, primary heavy crude oil and Pelican Lake heavy crude oil. Its midstream assets include two crude oil pipeline systems; and a 50% working interest in an 84-megawatt cogeneration plant at Primrose. The company was formerly known as AEX Minerals Corporation and changed its name to Canadian Natural Resources Limited in December 1975. Canadian Natural Resources Limited was incorporated in 1973 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.