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CNQ vs. IMO: Canadian Natural Resources vs. Imperial Oil Stock Comparison

How do Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Imperial Oil (IMO) 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

Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Imperial Oil (IMO) both belong to the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry, though CNQ is classified under Oil & Gas Exploration & Production while IMO falls under Integrated Oil & Gas.

Company profile comparison for Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Imperial Oil (IMO)
Profile ItemCNQIMO
NameCanadian Natural Resources Ltd.Imperial Oil Limited
Country/RegionCanadaCanada
GICS SectorEnergyEnergy
GICS Industry GroupEnergyEnergy
GICS IndustryOil, Gas & Consumable FuelsOil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
GICS Sub-IndustryOil & Gas Exploration & ProductionIntegrated Oil & Gas
Market Capitalization98.81 billion USD58.92 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE American
Listing DateJuly 31, 2000March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CNQ
IMO
GSPC
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Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Imperial Oil (IMO), 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 Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Imperial Oil (IMO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Imperial Oil (IMO)
MetricCNQIMO
Total Return (1Y)56.47%35.68%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)19.27%34.62%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)23.01%32.18%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CNQ
IMO
GSPC
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Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Imperial Oil (IMO), 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 Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Imperial Oil (IMO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Imperial Oil (IMO)
MetricCNQIMO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)32.07%30.00%
Beta (5Y)0.480.58
Max Drawdown (5Y)-35.85%-29.72%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.32M573.33K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CNQ and IMO 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 Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Imperial Oil (IMO)
MetricCNQIMO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.631.05
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.311.51

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 32.39% and Imperial Oil (IMO) at 25.24% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

CNQ

Energy industry group

32.39%

Max
53.85%
CNQ
32.39%
Q3
24.79%
Median
12.85%
Q1
2.03%
Min
-29.09%

IMO

Energy industry group

25.24%

Max
53.85%
IMO
25.24%
Q3
24.79%
Median
12.85%
Q1
2.03%
Min
-29.09%
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Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Imperial Oil (IMO): A comparison of their ROE against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 29.51% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Imperial Oil (IMO) at 10.88%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CNQ

Energy industry group

29.51%

Max
56.92%
CNQ
29.51%
Q3
22.92%
Median
10.10%
Q1
0.07%
Min
-27.38%

IMO

Energy industry group

10.88%

Max
56.92%
Q3
22.92%
IMO
10.88%
Median
10.10%
Q1
0.07%
Min
-27.38%
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Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Imperial Oil (IMO): A comparison of their net margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 32.24% and Imperial Oil (IMO) at 21.36% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

CNQ

Energy industry group

32.24%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
CNQ
32.24%
Median
18.73%
Q1
6.94%
Min
-24.52%

IMO

Energy industry group

21.36%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
IMO
21.36%
Median
18.73%
Q1
6.94%
Min
-24.52%
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Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Imperial Oil (IMO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Imperial Oil (IMO)
MetricCNQIMO
ROE (TTM)32.39%25.24%
ROA (TTM)9.97%10.93%
Net Margin (TTM)29.51%10.88%
Operating Margin (TTM)32.24%21.36%
Gross Margin (TTM)52.92%20.08%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 6.40% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Imperial Oil (IMO) at -7.42% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 81.05% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Imperial Oil (IMO) at -28.24% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for CNQ.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Imperial Oil (IMO)
MetricCNQIMO
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.40%-7.42%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-3.75%-7.56%
EPS Growth (YoY)81.05%-28.24%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)2.73%-17.26%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 0.99 and Imperial Oil (IMO) at 1.30 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

CNQ

Energy industry group

0.99

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
Median
1.41
CNQ
0.99
Q1
0.88
Min
0.24

IMO

Energy industry group

1.30

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
Median
1.41
IMO
1.30
Q1
0.88
Min
0.24
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Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Imperial Oil (IMO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Imperial Oil (IMO) at 0.17 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 0.42 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

CNQ

Energy industry group

0.42

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

IMO

Energy industry group

0.17

Max
1.75
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
Q1
0.30
IMO
0.17
Min
0.00
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Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Imperial Oil (IMO): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Imperial Oil (IMO)
MetricCNQIMO
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.991.30
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.420.17
Net Debt / EBITDA0.670.13

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 5.03% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Imperial Oil (IMO) at 2.65% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, CNQ the richer one.

CNQ

Energy industry group

5.03%

Max
8.57%
CNQ
5.03%
Q3
3.58%
Median
1.71%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

IMO

Energy industry group

2.65%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
IMO
2.65%
Median
1.71%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Imperial Oil (IMO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 36.37% and Imperial Oil (IMO) at 26.49% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

CNQ

Energy industry group

36.37%

Max
133.24%
Q3
53.31%
CNQ
36.37%
Median
25.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

IMO

Energy industry group

26.49%

Max
133.24%
Q3
53.31%
IMO
26.49%
Median
25.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Imperial Oil (IMO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Imperial Oil (IMO)
MetricCNQIMO
Dividend Yield (TTM)5.03%2.65%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)36.37%26.49%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 9.95 and Imperial Oil (IMO) at 13.78 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

CNQ

Energy industry group

9.95

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
Median
12.19
CNQ
9.95
Q1
7.71
Min
2.99

IMO

Energy industry group

13.78

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
IMO
13.78
Median
12.19
Q1
7.71
Min
2.99
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Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Imperial Oil (IMO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 2.06 and Imperial Oil (IMO) at 1.06 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

CNQ

Energy industry group

2.06

Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
CNQ
2.06
Median
1.69
Q1
0.88
Min
0.00

IMO

Energy industry group

1.06

Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
Median
1.69
IMO
1.06
Q1
0.88
Min
0.00
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Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Imperial Oil (IMO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 2.97 and Imperial Oil (IMO) at 3.38 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

CNQ

Energy industry group

2.97

Max
4.21
CNQ
2.97
Q3
2.38
Median
1.51
Q1
1.08
Min
0.01

IMO

Energy industry group

3.38

Max
4.21
IMO
3.38
Q3
2.38
Median
1.51
Q1
1.08
Min
0.01
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Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Imperial Oil (IMO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Imperial Oil (IMO)
MetricCNQIMO
P/E Ratio (TTM)9.9513.78
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.061.06
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.973.38
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)12.33%9.90%