Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) Ranks as One of the Top Dividend Stocks in Natural Gas and Oil: Here's Why.
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Sep 24 2025
0mins
Should l Buy CNQ?
Source: Yahoo Finance
Investment Recognition: Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE: CNQ) is recognized as one of the 15 best natural gas and oil dividend stocks to buy, thanks to its strong cost structure and ability to maintain profitability even during market volatility.
Shareholder Returns: The company has a solid track record of returning value to shareholders, with C$1.6 billion returned in Q2 2025, including dividends and share repurchases, and a history of 25 consecutive years of dividend growth.
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Analyst Views on CNQ
Wall Street analysts forecast CNQ stock price to fall
9 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
5 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 44.130
Low
33.83
Averages
39.17
High
62.00
Current: 44.130
Low
33.83
Averages
39.17
High
62.00
About CNQ
Canadian Natural Resources Limited is a senior crude oil and natural gas production company. The Company has operations in its core areas located in Western Canada, the United Kingdom portion of the North Sea and Offshore Africa. Its Oil Sands Mining and Upgrading segment produces synthetic crude oil through bitumen mining and upgrading operations at Horizon Oil Sands (Horizon) and through the Company's direct and indirect interest in the Athabasca Oil Sands Project (AOSP). Within Western Canada in the Midstream and Refining segment, the Company maintains certain activities that include pipeline operations, an electricity co-generation system and an investment in the North West Redwater Partnership (NWRP), a general partnership formed to upgrade and refine bitumen in the Province of Alberta. Its Pelican Lake asset is a large, contiguous, shallow, medium crude oil pool. It produces natural gas in western Canada and has a significant land base in both the Montney and Deep Basin.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Canadian Natural Resources Q4 Earnings Exceed Expectations
- Strong Earnings Performance: Canadian Natural Resources reported a Q4 non-GAAP EPS of C$0.82, beating expectations by C$0.12, which underscores the company's robust profitability and enhances investor confidence.
- Record Production Levels: The company achieved a total quarterly production of approximately 1,659,000 BOE/d, an increase of 188,000 BOE/d or 13% from Q4/24, indicating significant improvements in resource development and production efficiency.
- Liquid Production Growth: Total liquids production reached approximately 1,215,000 bbl/d, up 125,000 bbl/d or 12% from Q4/24, which not only boosts the company's market share but also strengthens its competitive position in the liquid energy market.
- Capital Expenditure Adjustments: The forecast for total capital expenditures in 2026 has been revised from C$6,425 million to C$6,880 million, reflecting the company's proactive strategy in expansion and acquisitions aimed at supporting future production growth and market demand.
See More
Canadian Natural Resources Reports Q4 Earnings Growth and Dividend Increase
- Significant Earnings Growth: Canadian Natural Resources reported fourth-quarter earnings of C$5.30 billion, translating to C$2.54 per share, a substantial increase from last year's C$1.14 billion and C$0.54 per share, indicating strong performance in the oil and gas market.
- Slight Revenue Increase: The company's revenue rose to C$9.6 billion in the fourth quarter, up from C$9.47 billion in the previous year, reflecting sustained market demand and effective operational strategies.
- Dividend Increase: The firm announced a 6% increase in its quarterly dividend to C$0.625 per common share, payable on April 7, which not only enhances shareholder returns but also demonstrates confidence in future cash flows.
- Share Buyback Authorization: The company received approval to file a Notice of Intention with the Toronto Stock Exchange for a Normal Course Issuer Bid to repurchase up to 10% of its common shares, aimed at enhancing shareholder value and optimizing its capital structure.
See More
Canadian Natural Resources Reports Q4 Earnings Growth
- Significant Earnings Growth: Canadian Natural Resources reported Q4 earnings of C$5.303 billion, translating to C$2.54 per share, a substantial increase from last year's C$1.138 billion and C$0.54 per share, indicating strong market performance and improved profitability.
- Slight Revenue Increase: The company's Q4 revenue rose to C$9.609 billion, up 1.5% from C$9.468 billion last year, reflecting its ongoing operational capability in a stable market environment despite modest growth.
- Financial Health: The dual growth in earnings and revenue underscores the company's robust financial health, enabling it to effectively navigate market fluctuations and support future investments, thereby boosting investor confidence.
- Enhanced Market Competitiveness: With improved profitability, Canadian Natural Resources strengthens its competitive position in the industry, likely attracting more investor interest in its future growth potential.
See More
Canadian Natural Resources Increases Quarterly Dividend by 6.4%
- Dividend Increase: Canadian Natural Resources has declared a quarterly dividend of CAD 0.625 per share, representing a 6.4% increase from the previous CAD 0.5875, indicating strong cash flow and profitability that boosts investor confidence.
- Payment Schedule: The dividend is payable on April 7, with a record date of March 20 and an ex-dividend date also on March 20, ensuring shareholders receive timely returns, which enhances the company's attractiveness among investors.
- Earnings Beat: The company's non-GAAP EPS of CAD 0.82 exceeded market expectations by CAD 0.12, reflecting strong operational efficiency and demand, which could drive the stock price higher.
- Outlook Update: Canadian Natural Resources has updated its FY26 outlook, demonstrating confidence in future growth, which is likely to attract more long-term investors and further solidify its market position.
See More
Canadian Natural Resources Increases Dividend by 6.4%
- Dividend Increase: Canadian Natural Resources Limited announces a 6.4% increase in its quarterly cash dividend from $0.5875 to $0.625 per common share, reflecting the company's confidence in its sustainable business model.
- Record of Increases: 2026 marks the 26th consecutive year of dividend increases for the company, with a compound annual growth rate of 20%, indicating a strong commitment to shareholder value supported by a robust asset base and diverse reserves.
- Payment Schedule: The new dividend will be payable on April 7, 2026, to shareholders of record as of March 20, 2026, ensuring timely returns for investors and enhancing overall investor confidence.
- Operational Context: As a leading crude oil and natural gas producer, Canadian Natural operates in Western Canada, the U.K. North Sea, and Offshore Africa, showcasing its strong competitive position in the global energy market.
See More
Canadian Natural Resources Set to Release Q4 Earnings on March 5
- Earnings Announcement Schedule: Canadian Natural Resources is set to announce its Q4 2023 earnings on March 5 before market open, with consensus EPS estimated at $0.51, reflecting a significant 45.2% year-over-year decline, and revenue expected at $6.91 billion, indicating pressure on profitability.
- Historical Performance Review: Over the past two years, Canadian Natural has beaten EPS estimates 88% of the time, yet has failed to exceed revenue estimates, highlighting ongoing challenges in revenue growth despite strong earnings performance.
- Estimate Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen two upward revisions and six downward revisions, while revenue estimates have experienced no upward revisions and three downward revisions, reflecting market caution regarding the company's future profitability.
- Market Analysis Perspective: Despite the declining earnings outlook, Seeking Alpha's Quant Rating still categorizes Canadian Natural Resources as a
See More
Canadian Natural Resources Q4 Earnings Exceed Expectations
- Strong Earnings Performance: Canadian Natural Resources reported a Q4 non-GAAP EPS of C$0.82, beating expectations by C$0.12, which underscores the company's robust profitability and enhances investor confidence.
- Record Production Levels: The company achieved a total quarterly production of approximately 1,659,000 BOE/d, an increase of 188,000 BOE/d or 13% from Q4/24, indicating significant improvements in resource development and production efficiency.
- Liquid Production Growth: Total liquids production reached approximately 1,215,000 bbl/d, up 125,000 bbl/d or 12% from Q4/24, which not only boosts the company's market share but also strengthens its competitive position in the liquid energy market.
- Capital Expenditure Adjustments: The forecast for total capital expenditures in 2026 has been revised from C$6,425 million to C$6,880 million, reflecting the company's proactive strategy in expansion and acquisitions aimed at supporting future production growth and market demand.
See More
Canadian Natural Resources Reports Q4 Earnings Growth and Dividend Increase
- Significant Earnings Growth: Canadian Natural Resources reported fourth-quarter earnings of C$5.30 billion, translating to C$2.54 per share, a substantial increase from last year's C$1.14 billion and C$0.54 per share, indicating strong performance in the oil and gas market.
- Slight Revenue Increase: The company's revenue rose to C$9.6 billion in the fourth quarter, up from C$9.47 billion in the previous year, reflecting sustained market demand and effective operational strategies.
- Dividend Increase: The firm announced a 6% increase in its quarterly dividend to C$0.625 per common share, payable on April 7, which not only enhances shareholder returns but also demonstrates confidence in future cash flows.
- Share Buyback Authorization: The company received approval to file a Notice of Intention with the Toronto Stock Exchange for a Normal Course Issuer Bid to repurchase up to 10% of its common shares, aimed at enhancing shareholder value and optimizing its capital structure.
See More
Canadian Natural Resources Reports Q4 Earnings Growth
- Significant Earnings Growth: Canadian Natural Resources reported Q4 earnings of C$5.303 billion, translating to C$2.54 per share, a substantial increase from last year's C$1.138 billion and C$0.54 per share, indicating strong market performance and improved profitability.
- Slight Revenue Increase: The company's Q4 revenue rose to C$9.609 billion, up 1.5% from C$9.468 billion last year, reflecting its ongoing operational capability in a stable market environment despite modest growth.
- Financial Health: The dual growth in earnings and revenue underscores the company's robust financial health, enabling it to effectively navigate market fluctuations and support future investments, thereby boosting investor confidence.
- Enhanced Market Competitiveness: With improved profitability, Canadian Natural Resources strengthens its competitive position in the industry, likely attracting more investor interest in its future growth potential.
See More
Canadian Natural Resources Increases Quarterly Dividend by 6.4%
- Dividend Increase: Canadian Natural Resources has declared a quarterly dividend of CAD 0.625 per share, representing a 6.4% increase from the previous CAD 0.5875, indicating strong cash flow and profitability that boosts investor confidence.
- Payment Schedule: The dividend is payable on April 7, with a record date of March 20 and an ex-dividend date also on March 20, ensuring shareholders receive timely returns, which enhances the company's attractiveness among investors.
- Earnings Beat: The company's non-GAAP EPS of CAD 0.82 exceeded market expectations by CAD 0.12, reflecting strong operational efficiency and demand, which could drive the stock price higher.
- Outlook Update: Canadian Natural Resources has updated its FY26 outlook, demonstrating confidence in future growth, which is likely to attract more long-term investors and further solidify its market position.
See More
Canadian Natural Resources Increases Dividend by 6.4%
- Dividend Increase: Canadian Natural Resources Limited announces a 6.4% increase in its quarterly cash dividend from $0.5875 to $0.625 per common share, reflecting the company's confidence in its sustainable business model.
- Record of Increases: 2026 marks the 26th consecutive year of dividend increases for the company, with a compound annual growth rate of 20%, indicating a strong commitment to shareholder value supported by a robust asset base and diverse reserves.
- Payment Schedule: The new dividend will be payable on April 7, 2026, to shareholders of record as of March 20, 2026, ensuring timely returns for investors and enhancing overall investor confidence.
- Operational Context: As a leading crude oil and natural gas producer, Canadian Natural operates in Western Canada, the U.K. North Sea, and Offshore Africa, showcasing its strong competitive position in the global energy market.
See More
Canadian Natural Resources Set to Release Q4 Earnings on March 5
- Earnings Announcement Schedule: Canadian Natural Resources is set to announce its Q4 2023 earnings on March 5 before market open, with consensus EPS estimated at $0.51, reflecting a significant 45.2% year-over-year decline, and revenue expected at $6.91 billion, indicating pressure on profitability.
- Historical Performance Review: Over the past two years, Canadian Natural has beaten EPS estimates 88% of the time, yet has failed to exceed revenue estimates, highlighting ongoing challenges in revenue growth despite strong earnings performance.
- Estimate Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen two upward revisions and six downward revisions, while revenue estimates have experienced no upward revisions and three downward revisions, reflecting market caution regarding the company's future profitability.
- Market Analysis Perspective: Despite the declining earnings outlook, Seeking Alpha's Quant Rating still categorizes Canadian Natural Resources as a
See More
