CNQ vs. VLO: Canadian Natural Resources vs. Valero Energy Stock Comparison
How do Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Valero Energy (VLO) 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 Valero Energy (VLO) both belong to the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry, though CNQ is classified under Oil & Gas Exploration & Production while VLO falls under Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing.
| Profile Item | CNQ | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. | Valero Energy Corporation |
| 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 Refining & Marketing |
| Market Capitalization | 98.81 billion USD | 96.62 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | July 31, 2000 | January 4, 1982 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CNQ | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 56.47% | 107.71% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 19.27% | 47.89% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 23.01% | 39.74% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CNQ | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 32.07% | 39.31% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.48 | 0.60 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -35.85% | -41.22% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 6.32M | 3.05M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CNQ | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.63 | 2.63 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.31 | 4.08 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 32.39% and Valero Energy (VLO) at 46.87% 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%
VLO
Energy industry group
46.87%
- Max
- 53.85%
- VLO
- 46.87%
- 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 Valero Energy (VLO) at 8.83%, 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%
VLO
Energy industry group
8.83%
- Max
- 56.92%
- Q3
- 22.92%
- Median
- 10.10%
- VLO
- 8.83%
- Q1
- 0.07%
- Min
- -27.38%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 32.24% and Valero Energy (VLO) at 20.47% 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%
VLO
Energy industry group
20.47%
- Max
- 71.31%
- Q3
- 33.75%
- VLO
- 20.47%
- Median
- 18.73%
- Q1
- 6.94%
- Min
- -24.52%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CNQ | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 32.39% | 46.87% |
| ROA (TTM) | 9.97% | 17.68% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 29.51% | 8.83% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 32.24% | 20.47% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 52.92% | 19.52% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 6.40% and Valero Energy (VLO) at -5.54% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 81.05% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Valero Energy (VLO) at -11.77% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for CNQ.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CNQ | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 6.40% | -5.54% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -3.75% | -11.40% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 81.05% | -11.77% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 2.73% | -36.12% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 0.99 and Valero Energy (VLO) at 1.72 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
VLO
Energy industry group
1.72
- Max
- 3.64
- Q3
- 2.21
- VLO
- 1.72
- Median
- 1.41
- Q1
- 0.88
- Min
- 0.24
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 0.42 and Valero Energy (VLO) at 0.35 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
CNQ
Energy industry group
0.42
- Max
- 1.75
- Q3
- 0.93
- Median
- 0.54
- CNQ
- 0.42
- Q1
- 0.30
- Min
- 0.00
VLO
Energy industry group
0.35
- Max
- 1.75
- Q3
- 0.93
- Median
- 0.54
- VLO
- 0.35
- Q1
- 0.30
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CNQ | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.99 | 1.72 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.42 | 0.35 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.67 | 0.06 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 5.03% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Valero Energy (VLO) at 1.35% 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%
VLO
Energy industry group
1.35%
- Max
- 8.57%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 1.71%
- VLO
- 1.35%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 36.37% and Valero Energy (VLO) at 10.76% 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%
VLO
Energy industry group
10.76%
- Max
- 133.24%
- Q3
- 53.31%
- Median
- 25.24%
- VLO
- 10.76%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CNQ | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 5.03% | 1.35% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 36.37% | 10.76% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 9.95 and Valero Energy (VLO) at 7.88 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
VLO
Energy industry group
7.88
- Max
- 39.54
- Q3
- 21.72
- Median
- 12.19
- VLO
- 7.88
- Q1
- 7.71
- Min
- 2.99
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Valero Energy (VLO) at 0.66 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 2.06 prices around its industry’s middle — VLO costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
CNQ
Energy industry group
2.06
- Max
- 5.40
- Q3
- 2.85
- CNQ
- 2.06
- Median
- 1.69
- Q1
- 0.88
- Min
- 0.00
VLO
Energy industry group
0.66
- Max
- 5.40
- Q3
- 2.85
- Median
- 1.69
- Q1
- 0.88
- VLO
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 2.97 and Valero Energy (VLO) at 3.45 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
VLO
Energy industry group
3.45
- Max
- 4.21
- VLO
- 3.45
- Q3
- 2.38
- Median
- 1.51
- Q1
- 1.08
- Min
- 0.01
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CNQ | VLO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 9.95 | 7.88 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.06 | 0.66 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.97 | 3.45 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 12.33% | 13.02% |