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    Stronger Oil And Gas Outlook Might Change The Case For Investing In Canadian Natural Resources Stock

    Simply Wall St·09/24/2026 22:35:12
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    • Canadian Natural Resources operates as a large Calgary based oil and gas producer in an industry that recently saw renewed momentum, driven by better market access, improved drilling technology, and ample resource availability.
    • The business ties its dividend to upstream cash flow and now faces a mix of stronger sector conditions and unresolved regulatory questions around projects such as the deferred Jackpine Mine expansion.
    • We will now look at how Canadian Natural Resources' investment narrative is influenced by the stronger Canadian oil and gas industry backdrop.

    Scan beyond Canadian Natural Resources and tap into the broader oil and gas momentum with a curated list of producers screened as 9 high quality undiscovered gems that might still be flying under most investors' radar.

    Canadian Natural Resources Investment Narrative Recap

    Owning Canadian Natural Resources means buying into a mature, scale driven producer that leans heavily on oil sands, complemented by conventional oil and gas. The central investment case is that operating discipline, cost efficiencies, and infrastructure tailwinds can help counter an industry where earnings and revenue are currently forecast to decline over the next few years.

    In the near term, the key swing factor is how effectively Canadian Natural Resources converts stronger sector conditions into cash flow while managing carbon and methane policy uncertainty around projects like Jackpine. The biggest risk remains higher cost oil sands exposure combined with evolving ESG rules that could push operating and capital costs higher.

    The surge in Canadian oil and gas M&A this year is the most relevant backdrop for Canadian Natural Resources right now. More than $30b of deals since January, including Shell’s move on ARC Resources and the Clearwater merger between Tamarack Valley and Headwater Exploration, highlights how valuable long life, low cost reserves have become for larger producers.

    For Canadian Natural Resources, an active deal market can act as both catalyst and stress test. On one side, it validates the focus on scale, reserves, and cash flow longevity. On the other, it sharpens investor attention on integration risk, potential regulatory scrutiny around consolidation, and whether any future transactions would support or dilute its current operating advantages.

    Canadian Natural Resources' current analyst narrative points to CA$40.8b in revenue and CA$8.9b in earnings by 2029, based on forecasts that assume revenue will decline 2.9% a year and that profits will move down from CA$11.8b today. This implies an earnings drop of about CA$2.9b over that period.

    Uncover why Canadian Natural Resources' fair value indicates a 7% potential upside to its current price that may not last much longer.

    TSX:CNQ 1-Year Stock Price Chart
    TSX:CNQ 1-Year Stock Price Chart

    Exploring Other Perspectives

    One alternate view focuses on regulatory risk for Canadian Natural Resources. The most bearish analysts were already penciling in revenue of about CA$38.0b and earnings near CA$5.5b by 2029, far below consensus. Those projections came before this recent M&A surge, so you should expect opinions to shift and explore several angles yourself.

    Explore 3 other Canadian Natural Resources fair value estimates, including one that suggests it could be worth just CA$72.71.

    Reach Your Own Conclusion

    Disagree with existing narratives? Extraordinary investment returns rarely come from following the herd, so go with your instincts.

    Looking for more investment ideas beyond Canadian Natural Resources?

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    This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.