Canadian Natural Resources Reports Q1 Profit Decline
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 51 minutes ago
0mins
Should l Buy CNQ?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Profit Decline: Canadian Natural Resources reported a first-quarter profit of C$1.348 billion, or C$0.64 per share, down from C$2.458 billion and C$1.17 per share last year, indicating significant profitability challenges amid a tough market environment.
- Adjusted Earnings: Excluding items, the company reported adjusted earnings of C$2.446 billion, or C$1.17 per share, which, while stable compared to last year, fails to offset the overall profit decline, suggesting pressures on cost control and operational efficiency.
- Revenue Slightly Down: Revenue for the quarter was C$10.810 billion, a 1.2% decrease from C$10.939 billion last year, a trend that could impact the company's cash flow and reinvestment capacity, posing challenges for future growth.
- Uncertain Market Outlook: Given the volatility in global energy markets and pricing pressures, Canadian Natural Resources must reassess its strategy to address potential declines in profitability and intensifying market competition.
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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: 47.850
Low
33.83
Averages
39.17
High
62.00
Current: 47.850
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.
- Earnings Announcement Date: Canadian Natural Resources is set to announce its Q1 2023 earnings on May 7 before market open, with a consensus EPS estimate of $0.78, reflecting a significant year-over-year decline of 32.8%, which could directly impact investor sentiment.
- Historical Performance Review: Over the past two years, CNQ has beaten EPS estimates 88% of the time, yet has failed to surpass revenue estimates, indicating considerable volatility in profitability that may affect future investment decisions.
- Expectation Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen four upward revisions and one downward revision, while revenue estimates have had one upward revision with no downward adjustments, suggesting a growing confidence in the company's future performance that may attract more investor interest.
- Market Reaction Potential: As the earnings report approaches, investor anticipation regarding the company's profitability and market performance is high, especially against the backdrop of current energy market fluctuations, with the earnings results likely to have a significant impact on stock prices.
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- Profit Decline: Canadian Natural Resources reported a first-quarter profit of C$1.348 billion, or C$0.64 per share, down from C$2.458 billion and C$1.17 per share last year, indicating significant profitability challenges amid a tough market environment.
- Adjusted Earnings: Excluding items, the company reported adjusted earnings of C$2.446 billion, or C$1.17 per share, which, while stable compared to last year, fails to offset the overall profit decline, suggesting pressures on cost control and operational efficiency.
- Revenue Slightly Down: Revenue for the quarter was C$10.810 billion, a 1.2% decrease from C$10.939 billion last year, a trend that could impact the company's cash flow and reinvestment capacity, posing challenges for future growth.
- Uncertain Market Outlook: Given the volatility in global energy markets and pricing pressures, Canadian Natural Resources must reassess its strategy to address potential declines in profitability and intensifying market competition.
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- Quarterly Dividend Announcement: Canadian Natural Resources has declared a quarterly dividend of CAD 0.625 per share, consistent with previous distributions, reflecting the company's stable cash flow and profitability.
- Dividend Payment Schedule: The dividend will be payable on July 7, with a record date of June 19 and an ex-dividend date also set for June 19, ensuring shareholders receive their returns promptly.
- Earnings Outlook Reaffirmed: The company reported a non-GAAP EPS of CAD 1.17, reaffirming its full-year outlook, indicating strong confidence in its future profitability.
- Earnings Beat Expectations: The non-GAAP EPS of CAD 0.82 exceeded market expectations by CAD 0.12, leading to an updated outlook for FY26, showcasing robust growth potential.
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- Earnings Performance: Canadian Natural Resources reported a non-GAAP EPS of C$1.17 for Q1, exceeding market expectations and indicating strong profitability, which is likely to positively impact the stock price.
- Cash Flow Generation: The company generated approximately C$4.4 billion in adjusted funds flow in Q1, demonstrating robust cash flow that supports future investments and shareholder returns.
- Production Highlights: Average production for the quarter was approximately 1,643,000 BOE/d, with total liquids production around 1,198,000 bbl/d, of which 66% was synthetic crude oil, light crude oil, and NGLs, showcasing ongoing growth in resource development.
- Year-over-Year Growth: Total company production increased by 4% or approximately 61,000 BOE/d compared to Q1 2025, reflecting the company's competitive position and ongoing enhancements in production capacity.
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- Project Progress: The pipeline project led by South Bow Corp and Bridger Pipeline is expected to extend from Alberta through Montana to Wyoming, having secured commitments for approximately 400,000 barrels per day, which accounts for about 72% of its planned initial capacity.
- Export Potential: This project could boost Canadian crude exports to the U.S. by over 12% and revive portions of the infrastructure tied to the canceled Keystone XL project, demonstrating a proactive response to market demand.
- Industry Support: Major Canadian producers, including Cenovus Energy and Canadian Natural Resources, have shown support for the project, reflecting an urgent need within the industry to increase transportation capacity to accommodate rising output.
- Policy Momentum: Following U.S. President Trump's approval of a cross-border permit last week, the pipeline project has gained new momentum, with the potential to transport over 1 million barrels per day if built, although further connections will be necessary to reach major refining hubs.
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- AbbVie's Growth Potential: AbbVie successfully expanded its product portfolio and added Botox through a $63 billion acquisition of Allergan, and despite losing patent protection for its flagship drug Humira, the company still achieved over 12% revenue growth in Q1 2026, demonstrating strong growth potential.
- Verizon's Acquisition Advantage: With a dividend yield of 5.9%, Verizon attracts investors, and despite a 17% stock price increase this year, its forward P/E ratio is only 10; the acquisition of Frontier is expected to enhance its fiber access capabilities, further boosting future growth prospects.
- Canadian Natural Resources' Inflation Hedge: Canadian Natural Resources has seen its stock price rise 40% this year amid rising oil prices, and while its dividend yield stands at 3.8%, its forward P/E remains below 14, indicating strong profitability even in economic uncertainty.
- Sustained Dividend Growth: Canadian Natural Resources has raised its dividend for 26 consecutive years, averaging a compounded annual growth rate of about 20%, maintaining stable dividend payments even during periods of low oil prices, showcasing its appeal as a high-dividend stock.
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