CNQ vs. LNG: Canadian Natural Resources vs. Cheniere Energy Stock Comparison
How do Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Cheniere Energy (LNG) 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 Cheniere Energy (LNG) both belong to the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry, though CNQ is classified under Oil & Gas Exploration & Production while LNG falls under Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation.
| Profile Item | CNQ | LNG |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. | Cheniere Energy Inc. |
| Country/Region | Canada | United States |
| GICS Sector | Energy | Energy |
| GICS Industry Group | Energy | Energy |
| GICS Industry | Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels | Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Oil & Gas Exploration & Production | Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation |
| Market Capitalization | 98.81 billion USD | 56.76 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | July 31, 2000 | April 4, 1994 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CNQ | LNG |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 56.47% | 36.89% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 19.27% | 19.36% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 23.01% | 22.59% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CNQ | LNG |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 32.07% | 31.41% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.48 | 0.06 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -35.85% | -24.87% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 6.32M | 2.00M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CNQ | LNG |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.63 | 1.04 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.31 | 1.54 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 32.39% and Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 39.68% 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%
LNG
Energy industry group
39.68%
- Max
- 53.85%
- LNG
- 39.68%
- Q3
- 24.79%
- Median
- 12.85%
- Q1
- 2.03%
- Min
- -29.09%
Net Margin (TTM)
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 29.51% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 13.40%, 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%
LNG
Energy industry group
13.40%
- Max
- 56.92%
- Q3
- 22.92%
- LNG
- 13.40%
- Median
- 10.10%
- Q1
- 0.07%
- Min
- -27.38%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 32.24% and Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 30.82% 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%
LNG
Energy industry group
30.82%
- Max
- 71.31%
- Q3
- 33.75%
- LNG
- 30.82%
- Median
- 18.73%
- Q1
- 6.94%
- Min
- -24.52%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CNQ | LNG |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 32.39% | 39.68% |
| ROA (TTM) | 9.97% | 8.61% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 29.51% | 13.40% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 32.24% | 30.82% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 52.92% | 34.89% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 27.21% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 6.40% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for LNG.
EPS Growth
Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 81.05% and Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 69.93% sit in the top peer quartile for EPS growth, so each is compounding per-share earnings faster than typical industry peers.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CNQ | LNG |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 6.40% | 27.21% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -3.75% | -15.77% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 81.05% | 69.93% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 2.73% | 62.34% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 0.99 and Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 0.90 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
LNG
Energy industry group
0.90
- Max
- 3.64
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.41
- LNG
- 0.90
- Q1
- 0.88
- Min
- 0.24
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 0.42 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 2.31 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.
CNQ
Energy industry group
0.42
- Max
- 1.75
- Q3
- 0.93
- Median
- 0.54
- CNQ
- 0.42
- Q1
- 0.30
- Min
- 0.00
LNG
Energy industry group
2.31
- LNG
- 2.31
- Max
- 1.75
- Q3
- 0.93
- Median
- 0.54
- Q1
- 0.30
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CNQ | LNG |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.99 | 0.90 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.42 | 2.31 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.67 | 3.26 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 5.03% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 0.82% 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%
LNG
Energy industry group
0.82%
- Max
- 8.57%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 1.71%
- LNG
- 0.82%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 36.37% and Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 15.80% 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%
LNG
Energy industry group
15.80%
- Max
- 133.24%
- Q3
- 53.31%
- Median
- 25.24%
- LNG
- 15.80%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CNQ | LNG |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 5.03% | 0.82% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 36.37% | 15.80% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 9.95 and Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 19.78 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
LNG
Energy industry group
19.78
- Max
- 39.54
- Q3
- 21.72
- LNG
- 19.78
- Median
- 12.19
- Q1
- 7.71
- Min
- 2.99
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 2.06 and Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 2.50 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
LNG
Energy industry group
2.50
- Max
- 5.40
- Q3
- 2.85
- LNG
- 2.50
- Median
- 1.69
- Q1
- 0.88
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 2.97 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Cheniere Energy (LNG) at 8.70 prices even higher, above its industry range.
CNQ
Energy industry group
2.97
- Max
- 4.21
- CNQ
- 2.97
- Q3
- 2.38
- Median
- 1.51
- Q1
- 1.08
- Min
- 0.01
LNG
Energy industry group
8.70
- LNG
- 8.70
- Max
- 4.21
- Q3
- 2.38
- Median
- 1.51
- Q1
- 1.08
- Min
- 0.01
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CNQ | LNG |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 9.95 | 19.78 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.06 | 2.50 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.97 | 8.70 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 12.33% | 3.17% |