Core Natural Resources (NYSE:CNR) Upgraded at Wall Street Zen

Key Points

• Core Natural Resources was upgraded by Wall Street Zen from sell to hold, adding to a mixed but generally constructive analyst backdrop. The stock now carries an average Moderate Buy rating with a consensus price target of $116.67.
• The company’s latest earnings beat expectations, with Q1 EPS of $0.41 versus the $0.28 consensus, though revenue of $899.5 million fell short of the $1.06 billion estimate. Revenue still rose sharply year over year, but earnings were down from $3.39 per share a year earlier.
• Core Natural Resources reported strong cash generation, including $119.4 million in operating cash flow and $55.5 million in free cash flow, while returning $47 million to shareholders. The company also lifted its 2026 contracted High CV Thermal volume outlook and expects another $100 million in insurance proceeds in the second quarter.

Core Natural Resources (NYSE:CNR - Get Free Report) was upgraded by investment analysts at Wall Street Zen from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report released on Saturday.

Several other research firms have also recently issued reports on CNR. B. Riley Financial reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Core Natural Resources in a research report on Thursday, April 30th. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Core Natural Resources from $109.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 24th. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Core Natural Resources from a "sell (d+)" rating to a "hold (c-)" rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded shares of Core Natural Resources from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, April 20th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $116.67.

Core Natural Resources Price Performance

CNR opened at $84.96 on Friday. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $94.78 and its 200 day simple moving average is $90.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.70. Core Natural Resources has a 1 year low of $63.36 and a 1 year high of $114.80. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.31 billion, a PE ratio of -69.64 and a beta of 0.14.

Core Natural Resources (NYSE:CNR - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 7th. The energy company reported $0.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.28 by $0.13. Core Natural Resources had a negative net margin of 1.49% and a negative return on equity of 1.69%. The business had revenue of $899.48 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.06 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.39 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was up 94.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Core Natural Resources will post 1.7 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity at Core Natural Resources

In related news, CAO John Rothka sold 3,800 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.62, for a total value of $348,156.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 6,190 shares in the company, valued at approximately $567,127.80. This trade represents a 38.04% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO James A. Brock sold 40,760 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $101.15, for a total transaction of $4,122,874.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 100,000 shares in the company, valued at $10,115,000. The trade was a 28.96% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 51,560 shares of company stock worth $5,118,890. Company insiders own 2.49% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Core Natural Resources

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Magnolia Group LLC lifted its holdings in Core Natural Resources by 2.4% in the 3rd quarter. Magnolia Group LLC now owns 732,000 shares of the energy company's stock worth $61,107,000 after buying an additional 17,500 shares in the last quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Core Natural Resources during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $4,369,000. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Core Natural Resources by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 573,047 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $47,838,000 after buying an additional 12,515 shares during the last quarter. Old West Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Core Natural Resources during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $8,724,000. Finally, Krilogy Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Core Natural Resources during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $1,031,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.54% of the company's stock.

Key Stories Impacting Core Natural Resources

Here are the key news stories impacting Core Natural Resources this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Core Natural Resources beat first-quarter profit estimates, reporting $0.41 per share versus the consensus $0.29, while net income was $21.0 million and adjusted EBITDA came in at $179.9 million. Core Natural Resources Reports First Quarter 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: The company generated $119.4 million in operating cash flow and $55.5 million in free cash flow, and returned $47.0 million to shareholders, which supports the investment case for income and capital returns. Core Natural Resources Reports First Quarter 2026 Results
• Neutral Sentiment: The company raised its 2026 contracted High CV Thermal volume outlook to 29.1 million tons and expects another $100 million of insurance proceeds in the second quarter, which could help future results if realized. Core Natural Resources expects another $100M of insurance proceeds in 2Q while lifting 2026 contracted High CV Thermal volume to 29.1M tons
• Negative Sentiment: Revenue came in below analyst expectations at $899.5 million versus the $1.06 billion consensus, and earnings fell sharply from $3.39 per share in the same quarter last year, which may be weighing on sentiment. Core Natural Resources’s NYSE: CNR Q1 CY2026 Earnings Results: Revenue In Line With Expectations

About Core Natural Resources

Core Natural Resources, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells bituminous coal in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments, Pennsylvania Mining Complex (PAMC) and CONSOL Marine Terminal. The company's PAMC segment engages in the mining, preparing, and marketing of bituminous coal to power generators, industrial end-users, and metallurgical end-users. This segment includes the Bailey Mine, the Enlow Fork Mine, the Harvey Mine, and the central preparation plant.

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