Zacks Research Issues Optimistic Outlook for CNQ Earnings

Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE:CNQ) (TSE:CNQ) – Equities research analysts at Zacks Research upped their Q1 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Canadian Natural Resources in a research note issued on Wednesday, March 26th. Zacks Research analyst T. Saha now expects that the oil and gas producer will earn $0.67 per share for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $0.59. The consensus estimate for Canadian Natural Resources’ current full-year earnings is $2.45 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Canadian Natural Resources’ Q3 2025 earnings at $0.64 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $0.48 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $0.66 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $0.53 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $0.56 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $0.73 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $2.48 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $3.07 EPS.

Several other analysts also recently weighed in on CNQ. Evercore ISI upgraded Canadian Natural Resources from an “in-line” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, March 7th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $63.00 price objective on shares of Canadian Natural Resources in a research report on Thursday. Raymond James restated a “market perform” rating on shares of Canadian Natural Resources in a research note on Friday, March 7th. Tudor Pickering downgraded shares of Canadian Natural Resources from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, February 10th. Finally, Scotiabank raised Canadian Natural Resources from a “sector perform” rating to a “sector outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 19th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $63.00.

Canadian Natural Resources Price Performance

CNQ opened at $30.55 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. The business has a fifty day moving average of $29.98 and a 200 day moving average of $32.14. Canadian Natural Resources has a 52-week low of $25.62 and a 52-week high of $41.29. The stock has a market cap of $64.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.86 and a beta of 1.48.

Canadian Natural Resources Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 4th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 21st will be given a dividend of $0.4117 per share. This is an increase from Canadian Natural Resources’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.39. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 21st. This represents a $1.65 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.39%. Canadian Natural Resources’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 77.88%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Canadian Natural Resources

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of CNQ. Holocene Advisors LP purchased a new position in Canadian Natural Resources during the third quarter valued at approximately $13,700,000. Principal Securities Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Canadian Natural Resources by 595.2% in the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 6,987 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $216,000 after acquiring an additional 5,982 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC raised its position in shares of Canadian Natural Resources by 6.3% in the 4th quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 296,424 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $9,151,000 after acquiring an additional 17,694 shares in the last quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc lifted its stake in shares of Canadian Natural Resources by 5.6% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 24,109,432 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $746,025,000 after purchasing an additional 1,270,945 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its position in Canadian Natural Resources by 87.0% during the fourth quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 4,437,771 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $136,994,000 after purchasing an additional 2,064,492 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.03% of the company’s stock.

Canadian Natural Resources Company Profile

Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers light and medium crude oil, primary heavy crude oil, Pelican Lake heavy crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), and synthetic crude oil (SCO).