Seek Returns

CNQ vs. WMB: Canadian Natural Resources vs. Williams Stock Comparison

How do Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Williams (WMB) 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 Williams (WMB) both belong to the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry, though CNQ is classified under Oil & Gas Exploration & Production while WMB falls under Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation.

Company profile comparison for Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Williams (WMB)
Profile ItemCNQWMB
NameCanadian Natural Resources Ltd.The Williams Companies, Inc.
Country/RegionCanadaUnited States
GICS SectorEnergyEnergy
GICS Industry GroupEnergyEnergy
GICS IndustryOil, Gas & Consumable FuelsOil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
GICS Sub-IndustryOil & Gas Exploration & ProductionOil & Gas Storage & Transportation
Market Capitalization98.81 billion USD80.11 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJuly 31, 2000December 31, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CNQ
WMB
GSPC
Loading price history…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Williams (WMB), 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 Williams (WMB). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Williams (WMB). 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 Williams (WMB)
MetricCNQWMB
Total Return (1Y)56.47%14.81%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)19.27%28.70%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)23.01%23.72%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CNQ
WMB
GSPC
Loading price history…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Williams (WMB), 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 Williams (WMB). 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 Williams (WMB)
MetricCNQWMB
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)32.07%26.38%
Beta (5Y)0.480.65
Max Drawdown (5Y)-35.85%-23.01%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.32M7.88M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
CNQ and WMB 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 Williams (WMB)
MetricCNQWMB
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.630.40
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.310.56

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 32.39% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Williams (WMB) at 18.31% 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%

WMB

Energy industry group

18.31%

Max
53.85%
Q3
24.79%
WMB
18.31%
Median
12.85%
Q1
2.03%
Min
-29.09%
Loading chart…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their ROE against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 29.51% and Williams (WMB) at 24.66% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

CNQ

Energy industry group

29.51%

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

WMB

Energy industry group

24.66%

Max
56.92%
WMB
24.66%
Q3
22.92%
Median
10.10%
Q1
0.07%
Min
-27.38%
Loading chart…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their net margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 32.24% and Williams (WMB) at 32.69% 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%

WMB

Energy industry group

32.69%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
WMB
32.69%
Median
18.73%
Q1
6.94%
Min
-24.52%
Loading chart…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their operating margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Williams (WMB)
MetricCNQWMB
ROE (TTM)32.39%18.31%
ROA (TTM)9.97%4.59%
Net Margin (TTM)29.51%24.66%
Operating Margin (TTM)32.24%32.69%
Gross Margin (TTM)52.92%63.05%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 6.40% and Williams (WMB) at 13.78% 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. Williams (WMB): 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 Williams (WMB) at 17.58% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for CNQ.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Williams (WMB)
MetricCNQWMB
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.40%13.78%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-3.75%2.91%
EPS Growth (YoY)81.05%17.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)2.73%8.62%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 0.99 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Williams (WMB) at 0.75 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for WMB.

CNQ

Energy industry group

0.99

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

WMB

Energy industry group

0.75

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
Median
1.41
Q1
0.88
WMB
0.75
Min
0.24
Loading chart…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their current ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 0.42 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Williams (WMB) at 1.58 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CNQ

Energy industry group

0.42

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

WMB

Energy industry group

1.58

Max
1.75
WMB
1.58
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
Q1
0.30
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Williams (WMB): 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 Williams (WMB)
MetricCNQWMB
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.990.75
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.421.58
Net Debt / EBITDA0.674.58

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 5.03% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Williams (WMB) at 3.23% 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%

WMB

Energy industry group

3.23%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
WMB
3.23%
Median
1.71%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 36.37% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Williams (WMB) at 81.69% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

CNQ

Energy industry group

36.37%

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

WMB

Energy industry group

81.69%

Max
133.24%
WMB
81.69%
Q3
53.31%
Median
25.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Williams (WMB)
MetricCNQWMB
Dividend Yield (TTM)5.03%3.23%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)36.37%81.69%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 9.95 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Williams (WMB) at 25.23 sits in the richer quartile — WMB needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CNQ

Energy industry group

9.95

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

WMB

Energy industry group

25.23

Max
39.54
WMB
25.23
Q3
21.72
Median
12.19
Q1
7.71
Min
2.99
Loading chart…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) at 2.06 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Williams (WMB) at 6.32 clears its benchmark range — WMB looks notably rich on sales.

CNQ

Energy industry group

2.06

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

WMB

Energy industry group

6.32

WMB
6.32
Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
Median
1.69
Q1
0.88
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

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 Williams (WMB) at 5.11 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

WMB

Energy industry group

5.11

WMB
5.11
Max
4.21
Q3
2.38
Median
1.51
Q1
1.08
Min
0.01
Loading chart…
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Williams (WMB)
MetricCNQWMB
P/E Ratio (TTM)9.9525.23
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.066.32
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.975.11
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)12.33%-3.56%