Seek Returns

CNQ vs. SU: Canadian Natural Resources vs. Suncor Energy Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Suncor Energy (SU)
Profile ItemCNQSU
NameCanadian Natural Resources Ltd.Suncor Energy Inc.
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 USD79.14 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJuly 31, 2000March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CNQ
SU
GSPC
Loading price history…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Suncor Energy (SU), 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Suncor Energy (SU). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Suncor Energy (SU). 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 Suncor Energy (SU)
MetricCNQSU
Total Return (1Y)56.47%61.76%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)19.27%31.81%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)23.01%25.49%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CNQ
SU
GSPC
Loading price history…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Suncor Energy (SU), 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Suncor Energy (SU). 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 Suncor Energy (SU)
MetricCNQSU
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)32.07%29.23%
Beta (5Y)0.480.26
Max Drawdown (5Y)-35.85%-36.58%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.32M4.09M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
CNQ and SU 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 Suncor Energy (SU)
MetricCNQSU
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.631.97
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.312.79

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 32.39% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Suncor Energy (SU) at 23.46% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CNQ.

CNQ

Energy industry group

32.39%

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

SU

Energy industry group

23.46%

Max
53.85%
Q3
24.79%
SU
23.46%
Median
12.85%
Q1
2.03%
Min
-29.09%
Loading chart…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Suncor Energy (SU): 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 Suncor Energy (SU) at 17.68%, 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%

SU

Energy industry group

17.68%

Max
56.92%
Q3
22.92%
SU
17.68%
Median
10.10%
Q1
0.07%
Min
-27.38%
Loading chart…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Suncor Energy (SU): A comparison of their net margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 32.24% and Suncor Energy (SU) at 26.33% 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%

SU

Energy industry group

26.33%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
SU
26.33%
Median
18.73%
Q1
6.94%
Min
-24.52%
Loading chart…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Suncor Energy (SU): A comparison of their operating margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Suncor Energy (SU)
MetricCNQSU
ROE (TTM)32.39%23.46%
ROA (TTM)9.97%10.11%
Net Margin (TTM)29.51%17.68%
Operating Margin (TTM)32.24%26.33%
Gross Margin (TTM)52.92%60.55%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 6.40% and Suncor Energy (SU) at -4.56% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Suncor Energy (SU): 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 Suncor Energy (SU) at 2.75% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for CNQ.

Loading chart…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Suncor Energy (SU): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Suncor Energy (SU)
MetricCNQSU
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.40%-4.56%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-3.75%-5.92%
EPS Growth (YoY)81.05%2.75%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)2.73%-9.44%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 0.99 and Suncor Energy (SU) at 1.71 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

SU

Energy industry group

1.71

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
SU
1.71
Median
1.41
Q1
0.88
Min
0.24
Loading chart…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Suncor Energy (SU): A comparison of their current ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Suncor Energy (SU) at 0.29 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

SU

Energy industry group

0.29

Max
1.75
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
Q1
0.30
SU
0.29
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Suncor Energy (SU): 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 Suncor Energy (SU)
MetricCNQSU
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.991.71
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.420.29
Net Debt / EBITDA0.670.28

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 5.03% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Suncor Energy (SU) at 3.48% 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%

SU

Energy industry group

3.48%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
SU
3.48%
Median
1.71%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Suncor Energy (SU): 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 Suncor Energy (SU) at 25.50% 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%

SU

Energy industry group

25.50%

Max
133.24%
Q3
53.31%
SU
25.50%
Median
25.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Suncor Energy (SU): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Suncor Energy (SU)
MetricCNQSU
Dividend Yield (TTM)5.03%3.48%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)36.37%25.50%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 9.95 and Suncor Energy (SU) at 10.14 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

SU

Energy industry group

10.14

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
Median
12.19
SU
10.14
Q1
7.71
Min
2.99
Loading chart…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Suncor Energy (SU): 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 Suncor Energy (SU) at 1.26 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

SU

Energy industry group

1.26

Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
Median
1.69
SU
1.26
Q1
0.88
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Suncor Energy (SU): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Suncor Energy (SU) at 2.25 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.

CNQ

Energy industry group

2.97

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

SU

Energy industry group

2.25

Max
4.21
Q3
2.38
SU
2.25
Median
1.51
Q1
1.08
Min
0.01
Loading chart…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Suncor Energy (SU): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Suncor Energy (SU)
MetricCNQSU
P/E Ratio (TTM)9.9510.14
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.061.26
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.972.25
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)12.33%15.33%