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APA vs. CNQ: APA vs. Canadian Natural Resources Stock Comparison

How do APA (APA) and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

APA (APA) and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) are both classified in the Oil & Gas Exploration & Production sub-industry within the broader Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for APA (APA) and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ)
Profile ItemAPACNQ
NameAPA CorporationCanadian Natural Resources Ltd.
Country/RegionUnited StatesCanada
GICS SectorEnergyEnergy
GICS Industry GroupEnergyEnergy
GICS IndustryOil, Gas & Consumable FuelsOil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
GICS Sub-IndustryOil & Gas Exploration & ProductionOil & Gas Exploration & Production
Market Capitalization14.98 billion USD98.81 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMay 15, 1979July 31, 2000
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

APA
CNQ
GSPC
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APA (APA) vs. Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for APA (APA) and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for APA (APA) and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for APA (APA) and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ)
MetricAPACNQ
Total Return (1Y)92.90%56.47%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)11.25%19.27%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)11.68%23.01%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

APA
CNQ
GSPC
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APA (APA) vs. Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for APA (APA) and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for APA (APA) and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ)
MetricAPACNQ
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)44.92%32.07%
Beta (5Y)0.340.48
Max Drawdown (5Y)-70.47%-35.85%
Avg. Volume (3M)5.66M6.32M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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APA and CNQ are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for APA (APA) and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ)
MetricAPACNQ
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.971.63
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.942.31

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both APA (APA) at 33.32% and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 32.39% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

APA

Energy industry group

33.32%

Max
53.85%
APA
33.32%
Q3
24.79%
Median
12.85%
Q1
2.03%
Min
-29.09%

CNQ

Energy industry group

32.39%

Max
53.85%
CNQ
32.39%
Q3
24.79%
Median
12.85%
Q1
2.03%
Min
-29.09%
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APA (APA) vs. Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ): A comparison of their ROE against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both APA (APA) at 23.49% and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 29.51% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

APA

Energy industry group

23.49%

Max
56.92%
APA
23.49%
Q3
22.92%
Median
10.10%
Q1
0.07%
Min
-27.38%

CNQ

Energy industry group

29.51%

Max
56.92%
CNQ
29.51%
Q3
22.92%
Median
10.10%
Q1
0.07%
Min
-27.38%
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APA (APA) vs. Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ): A comparison of their net margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

APA (APA) at 44.25% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 32.24%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

APA

Energy industry group

44.25%

Max
71.31%
APA
44.25%
Q3
33.75%
Median
18.73%
Q1
6.94%
Min
-24.52%

CNQ

Energy industry group

32.24%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
CNQ
32.24%
Median
18.73%
Q1
6.94%
Min
-24.52%
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APA (APA) vs. Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ): A comparison of their operating margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for APA (APA) and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ)
MetricAPACNQ
ROE (TTM)33.32%32.39%
ROA (TTM)14.06%9.97%
Net Margin (TTM)23.49%29.51%
Operating Margin (TTM)44.25%32.24%
Gross Margin (TTM)78.98%52.92%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 6.40% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while APA (APA) at -8.39% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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APA (APA) vs. Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both APA (APA) at 75.77% and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 81.05% sit in the top peer quartile for EPS growth, so each is compounding per-share earnings faster than typical industry peers.

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APA (APA) vs. Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for APA (APA) and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ)
MetricAPACNQ
Revenue Growth (YoY)-8.39%6.40%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-6.96%-3.75%
EPS Growth (YoY)75.77%81.05%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-28.73%2.73%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 0.99 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while APA (APA) at 0.85 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for APA.

APA

Energy industry group

0.85

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
Median
1.41
Q1
0.88
APA
0.85
Min
0.24

CNQ

Energy industry group

0.99

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
Median
1.41
CNQ
0.99
Q1
0.88
Min
0.24
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APA (APA) vs. Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ): A comparison of their current ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both APA (APA) at 0.42 and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 0.42 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

APA

Energy industry group

0.42

Max
1.75
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
APA
0.42
Q1
0.30
Min
0.00

CNQ

Energy industry group

0.42

Max
1.75
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
CNQ
0.42
Q1
0.30
Min
0.00
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APA (APA) vs. Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for APA (APA) and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ)
MetricAPACNQ
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.850.99
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.420.42
Net Debt / EBITDA0.530.67

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 5.03% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while APA (APA) at 2.30% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, CNQ the richer one.

APA

Energy industry group

2.30%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
APA
2.30%
Median
1.71%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CNQ

Energy industry group

5.03%

Max
8.57%
CNQ
5.03%
Q3
3.58%
Median
1.71%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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APA (APA) vs. Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both APA (APA) at 16.26% and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 36.37% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

APA

Energy industry group

16.26%

Max
133.24%
Q3
53.31%
Median
25.24%
APA
16.26%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CNQ

Energy industry group

36.37%

Max
133.24%
Q3
53.31%
CNQ
36.37%
Median
25.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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APA (APA) vs. Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for APA (APA) and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ)
MetricAPACNQ
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.30%5.03%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)16.26%36.37%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

APA (APA) at 7.26 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 9.95 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for APA, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

APA

Energy industry group

7.26

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
Median
12.19
Q1
7.71
APA
7.26
Min
2.99

CNQ

Energy industry group

9.95

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
Median
12.19
CNQ
9.95
Q1
7.71
Min
2.99
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APA (APA) vs. Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both APA (APA) at 1.62 and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 2.06 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

APA

Energy industry group

1.62

Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
Median
1.69
APA
1.62
Q1
0.88
Min
0.00

CNQ

Energy industry group

2.06

Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
CNQ
2.06
Median
1.69
Q1
0.88
Min
0.00
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APA (APA) vs. Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

APA (APA) at 2.11 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 2.97 carries an above-peer premium to book — CNQ is pricier on assets.

APA

Energy industry group

2.11

Max
4.21
Q3
2.38
APA
2.11
Median
1.51
Q1
1.08
Min
0.01

CNQ

Energy industry group

2.97

Max
4.21
CNQ
2.97
Q3
2.38
Median
1.51
Q1
1.08
Min
0.01
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APA (APA) vs. Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for APA (APA) and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ)
MetricAPACNQ
P/E Ratio (TTM)7.269.95
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.622.06
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.112.97
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)14.08%12.33%