Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE:CNQ) Given Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE:CNQ) (TSE:CNQ) have been given a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” by the eleven analysts that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $57.00.

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on CNQ shares. Zacks Research lowered shares of Canadian Natural Resources from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 19th. Raymond James Financial raised Canadian Natural Resources from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 7th. Weiss Ratings raised Canadian Natural Resources from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research report on Friday. TD Securities restated a “buy” rating on shares of Canadian Natural Resources in a research note on Friday, August 7th. Finally, Desjardins raised Canadian Natural Resources to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, July 16th.

Institutional Trading of Canadian Natural Resources

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Sunbelt Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Canadian Natural Resources during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Trust Co. of Vermont bought a new position in shares of Canadian Natural Resources during the second quarter worth approximately $26,000. CX Institutional acquired a new stake in shares of Canadian Natural Resources in the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Manchester Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Canadian Natural Resources in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Axiom Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Canadian Natural Resources during the 1st quarter valued at $29,000. 74.03% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Canadian Natural Resources Trading Down 1.3%

Shares of NYSE CNQ opened at $50.72 on Tuesday. Canadian Natural Resources has a twelve month low of $29.68 and a twelve month high of $51.47. The stock has a market cap of $104.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.52 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a quick ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The company’s fifty day moving average is $44.28 and its 200-day moving average is $45.18.

Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE:CNQ) (TSE:CNQ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 6th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.43 by $0.15. Canadian Natural Resources had a return on equity of 23.91% and a net margin of 22.78%.The business had revenue of $14.74 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.40 billion. Equities research analysts predict that Canadian Natural Resources will post 4.05 EPS for the current year.

Canadian Natural Resources Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 11th will be issued a dividend of $0.625 per share. This represents a $2.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.9%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 11th. Canadian Natural Resources’s payout ratio is currently 44.69%.

Canadian Natural Resources Company Profile

Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE: CNQ) is a Calgary-based independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company. Established in the early 1970s and publicly listed in Canada and the United States, the company is principally engaged in the exploration, development, production, and marketing of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. Its asset base spans conventional and unconventional reservoirs and includes oil sands mining and in-situ thermal projects, midstream processing and upgrading capacity, and related field operations.

The company’s operations are concentrated in Western Canada, where it develops heavy crude, bitumen from oil sands and conventional light crude and natural gas resources.