Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE:CNQ) Sets New 1-Year High on Better-Than-Expected Earnings

Shares of Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE:CNQ) (TSE:CNQ) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday following a better than expected earnings announcement. The company traded as high as $45.92 and last traded at $44.95, with a volume of 2655277 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $44.18.

The oil and gas producer reported $0.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.53 by $0.29. Canadian Natural Resources had a return on equity of 18.93% and a net margin of 14.90%.During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.93 EPS.

Canadian Natural Resources Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 7th. Investors of record on Friday, March 20th will be paid a dividend of $0.625 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 20th. This represents a $2.50 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.5%. This is a boost from Canadian Natural Resources’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.59. Canadian Natural Resources’s dividend payout ratio is currently 74.34%.

Canadian Natural Resources News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Canadian Natural Resources this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Board raised the quarterly dividend to $0.625 (6.4% increase), implying a ~5.5% yield — a shareholder‑friendly move that typically supports the share price and income investors. Canadian Natural Resources Limited Announces Quarterly Dividend
• Positive Sentiment: Higher oil prices (WTI > $75) create a favorable commodity backdrop for CNQ’s cash flow and valuation, increasing upside potential if prices persist. Oil Prices Above $75: 4 Key Players to Watch in a Volatile Market
• Positive Sentiment: Management touted record Q4 2025 production, lower operating costs and stronger operating cash flow (cash from operations rose), signaling improved underlying operations and free‑cash‑flow potential. Canadian Natural Resources Limited Announces 2025 Fourth Quarter and Year End Results
• Neutral Sentiment: Q4 results were mixed: revenue edged higher and the company beat some analyst expectations, but reported weaker profitability versus the prior year — operating profit and net income declined while operating cash flow improved and capital spending increased. Investors will parse the beat vs. the softer margins and higher capex. Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNQ) Releases Q4 2025 Earnings: Revenue Up but EPS Down
• Negative Sentiment: CNQ paused a planned C$8.25‑billion oil‑sands expansion, citing carbon‑policy uncertainty — a setback for production growth and long‑term projects that could weigh on future upside and investor confidence until policy clarity returns. Canadian Natural pauses $8.25-billion oil-sands expansion, citing carbon policy uncertainty

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on the company. Zacks Research cut Canadian Natural Resources from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, December 19th. Desjardins cut shares of Canadian Natural Resources from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Evercore cut shares of Canadian Natural Resources from an “outperform” rating to an “in-line” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Canadian Natural Resources from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, January 31st. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group set a $35.00 price target on shares of Canadian Natural Resources and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 2nd. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Canadian Natural Resources has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $48.50.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Canadian Natural Resources

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Canadian Natural Resources by 85.5% in the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 18,090 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $557,000 after acquiring an additional 8,336 shares during the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its position in Canadian Natural Resources by 92.7% in the first quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 29,096 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $896,000 after purchasing an additional 13,996 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its stake in Canadian Natural Resources by 4.3% during the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 79,374 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $2,445,000 after purchasing an additional 3,266 shares in the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Canadian Natural Resources by 47.3% during the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 1,644 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $51,000 after buying an additional 528 shares during the period. Finally, Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd boosted its position in shares of Canadian Natural Resources by 238.9% during the second quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd now owns 24,331 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $764,000 after buying an additional 17,152 shares during the period. 74.03% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Canadian Natural Resources Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.53. The firm has a market capitalization of $94.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.05 and a beta of 0.63. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $37.57 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $33.97.

About Canadian Natural Resources

Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE: CNQ) is a Calgary-based independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company. Established in the early 1970s and publicly listed in Canada and the United States, the company is principally engaged in the exploration, development, production, and marketing of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. Its asset base spans conventional and unconventional reservoirs and includes oil sands mining and in-situ thermal projects, midstream processing and upgrading capacity, and related field operations.

The company’s operations are concentrated in Western Canada, where it develops heavy crude, bitumen from oil sands and conventional light crude and natural gas resources.