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Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) Stock Forecast & Price Target

Canadian Natural Resources logo
C$73.83 -0.36 (-0.49%)
As of 10/14/2026 04:00 PM Eastern

Canadian Natural Resources - Analysts' Recommendations and Stock Price Forecast (2026)

Consensus Rating

Sell
0
Hold
6
Buy
7

Based on 13 Wall Street analysts who have issued ratings for Canadian Natural Resources in the last 12 months, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy." Out of the 13 analysts, 6 have given a hold rating, and 7 have given a buy rating for CNQ.

Consensus Price Target

C$67.53
-8.53% Downside
According to the 13 analysts' twelve-month price targets for Canadian Natural Resources, the average price target is C$67.53. The highest price target for CNQ is C$90.00, while the lowest price target for CNQ is C$47.00. The average price target represents a forecasted downside of -8.53% from the current price of C$73.83.
MarketBeat calculates consensus analyst ratings for stocks using the most recent rating from each Wall Street analyst that has rated a stock within the last twelve months. Each analyst's rating is normalized to a standardized rating score of 1 (sell), 2 (hold), 3 (buy) or 4 (strong buy). Analyst consensus ratings scores are calculated using the mean average of the number of normalized sell, hold, buy and strong buy ratings from Wall Street analysts. Each stock's consensus analyst rating is derived from its calculated consensus ratings score (0 to .5 = Strong Sell, .5 to 1 = Sell, 1 to 1.5 = Reduce, 1.5 to 2.5 = Hold, 2.5 to 3.0 = Moderate Buy, 3.0 to 3.5 = Buy, >3.5 = Strong Buy). MarketBeat's consensus price targets are a mean average of the most recent available price targets set by each analyst that has set a price target for the stock in the last twelve months. MarketBeat's consensus ratings and consensus price targets may differ from those calculated by other firms due to differences in methodology and available data.
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CNQ Analyst Ratings Over Time

TypeCurrent Forecast
10/15/25 to 10/15/26
1 Month Ago
9/15/25 to 9/15/26
3 Months Ago
7/17/25 to 7/17/26
1 Year Ago
10/15/24 to 10/15/25
Strong Buy
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
Buy
7 Buy rating(s)
7 Buy rating(s)
7 Buy rating(s)
6 Buy rating(s)
Hold
6 Hold rating(s)
6 Hold rating(s)
5 Hold rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
Sell
0 Sell rating(s)
0 Sell rating(s)
0 Sell rating(s)
0 Sell rating(s)
Consensus Price TargetC$67.53C$66.88C$64.88C$54.64
Forecasted Upside-8.53% Downside-6.72% Downside5.63% Upside26.01% Upside
Consensus RatingModerate BuyModerate BuyModerate BuyModerate Buy

CNQ Analyst Recommendations By Month

The chart below shows how a company's ratings by analysts have changed over time. Each bar represents the previous year of ratings for that month. Within each bar, the sell ratings are shown in red, the hold ratings are shown in yellow, the buy ratings are shown in green, and the strong buy ratings are shown in dark green.
Skip Chart & View Analyst Rating History

CNQ Price Targets by Month

The chart below shows how a company's share price and consensus price target have changed over time. The dark blue line represents the company's actual price. The lighter blue line represents the stock's consensus price target. The even lighter blue range in the background of the two lines represents the low price target and the high price target for each stock.
Skip Chart and View Analyst Price Target HistorySkip Chart & View Price History Table

Canadian Natural Resources Stock vs. The Competition

TypeCanadian Natural ResourcesEnergy Companies
Consensus Rating Score
2.54
2.44
Consensus RatingModerate BuyHold
News Sentiment Rating
Positive News

See Recent CNQ News
Positive News
Report Date
0 Results
DateBrokerageAnalystActionRatingPrice TargetReport Date
Upside/Downside
Details
10/13/2026 Boost TargetC$79.00 ➝ C$86.00+16.77%
9/16/2026 Boost TargetOutperformC$66.00 ➝ C$70.00-0.81%
8/27/2026 Boost TargetC$70.00 ➝ C$75.00+8.32%
8/12/2026 Boost TargetC$67.00 ➝ C$75.00+12.44%
8/7/2026 Boost TargetBuyC$72.00 ➝ C$73.00+14.85%
8/7/2026 Boost TargetSector PerformC$71.00 ➝ C$73.00+14.85%
7/17/2026 Set TargetHoldC$70.00+14.40%
6/29/2026 UpgradeNeutral ➝ BuyC$67.00 ➝ C$69.00+22.71%
6/26/2026 UpgradeHold
3/31/2026 Boost TargetSector PerformC$59.00 ➝ C$90.00+34.27%
3/16/2026 Boost TargetC$48.00 ➝ C$59.00-11.70%
3/6/2026 Boost TargetBuyC$51.00 ➝ C$64.00+0.85%
3/6/2026 Boost TargetOutperformC$50.00 ➝ C$70.00+10.31%
3/6/2026 Boost TargetOutperformC$56.00 ➝ C$65.00+2.43%
1/23/2026 Lower TargetC$51.00 ➝ C$50.00+1.28%
1/6/2026 DowngradeOutperform ➝ HoldC$50.00+15.34%
10/17/2025 Set TargetEqual WeightC$47.00+11.40%
2/10/2025DowngradeStrong-Buy ➝ Hold

Analyst ratings data on MarketBeat is provided by Benzinga and other data providers. This page was last refreshed on Thursday at 06:18 AM ET.


Should I Buy Canadian Natural Resources Stock? CNQ Pros and Cons Explained

These pros and cons were generated based on recent news and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate insights. They were last updated on Thursday, October 8, 2026. Please send any questions or comments about these Canadian Natural Resources pros and cons to contact@marketbeat.com.

Canadian Natural Resources
Bull Case

green Wall Street bull icon

Here are some ways that investors could benefit from investing in Canadian Natural Resources Limited:

  • Canadian Natural Resources Limited is currently trading at $69.84, which is above its 200-day moving average of C$64.58, indicating strong recent momentum and a bullish technical trend that has been reinforced by the stock passing above this key support level in late September 2026.
  • The company reported robust second-quarter 2026 results with earnings per share of C$2.19 and revenue of C$14.74 billion, demonstrating strong cash generation and operational efficiency that supports its high return on equity of 26.67% and net margin of 24.93%.
  • With a dividend yield of 3.63% and a PEG ratio of 0.53, the stock offers an attractive income stream relative to its growth potential, as a PEG ratio below 1.0 suggests the stock is undervalued compared to its earnings growth rate.
  • Analyst sentiment has improved significantly, with the consensus rating shifting to "Moderate Buy" and the average price target rising to C$67.12, reflecting increased confidence from firms like JPMorgan Chase and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce which recently raised their targets to C$75.00.
  • Recent news highlights a potential game-changer in the form of a Conditional Pathways CCS pact, which could enhance the company's sustainability profile and long-term value proposition in the energy sector.

Canadian Natural Resources
Bear Case

red Wall Street bear icon

Investors should be bearish about investing in Canadian Natural Resources Limited for these reasons:

  • The stock is trading at $69.84, which is above the current average analyst price target of C$67.12, suggesting that the market may be pricing in more optimistic expectations than what the consensus of thirteen analysts currently supports.
  • Recent volatility in crude oil prices, such as the 3% drop in oil prices on September 21, 2026, has directly impacted the stock, highlighting the company's continued exposure to commodity price fluctuations and geopolitical risks like those involving Iran.
  • Insider activity has been predominantly negative in the first half of 2026, with multiple directors and insiders selling significant blocks of shares at prices ranging from C$49.19 to C$68.01, which may signal a lack of confidence in the current valuation levels.
  • The company carries a debt-to-equity ratio of 36.64, which is relatively high for the sector, potentially limiting its financial flexibility during periods of low oil prices or increased capital expenditure needs.
  • Despite strong recent performance, the stock has experienced significant drawdowns, having fallen from its 52-week high of $72.35 to a low of $41.67 earlier in the year, indicating high volatility and risk for investors seeking stable returns.

CNQ Forecast - Frequently Asked Questions

According to the research reports of 13 Wall Street equities research analysts, the average twelve-month stock price forecast for Canadian Natural Resources is C$67.53, with a high forecast of C$90.00 and a low forecast of C$47.00.

13 Wall Street equities research analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for Canadian Natural Resources in the last year. There are currently 6 hold ratings and 7 buy ratings for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street equities research analysts is that investors should "moderate buy" CNQ shares.

According to analysts, Canadian Natural Resources's stock has a predicted downside of -8.53% based on their 12-month stock forecasts.

Canadian Natural Resources has been rated by research analysts at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Desjardins, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Raymond James Financial, Royal Bank Of Canada, Scotia, and TD in the past 90 days.

Analysts like Canadian Natural Resources more than other "energy" companies. The consensus rating for Canadian Natural Resources is Moderate Buy while the average consensus rating for "energy" companies is Hold. Learn more on how CNQ compares to other companies.


MarketBeat monitors more than a dozen sources for Canadian Natural Resources analyst ratings, with the most recent rating issued on 10/13/2026.
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