
TSE:CNQ
This summary was created by AI, based on 93 opinions in the last 12 months.
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) presents a mixed outlook among experts, with many praising its robust management and long-life assets. The company benefits from its low breakeven point and solid free cash flow generation. However, concerns about the price of oil and geopolitical influences weigh on sentiment, leading to recommendations to consider trimming positions after a notable run-up. While analysts highlight the strong dividend record and favorable fundamentals, there is caution as the energy sector faces pressures from potential oversupply and regulatory challenges. Overall, CNQ is viewed as a solid long-term hold with strong recovery potential in favorable market conditions.
The energy sector, particularly the energy exploration and production industry, tends to have 2 periods of seasonal strength. The first one is from January all the way through to May. The next period is just approaching, basically the last half of summer all the way through to Labour Day. The average gain for August and mid-September is about 5%. Trends are still very much positive. 1.9% dividend yield.
Spinning off tons of cash. One of the largest senior producers in Western Canada, and produce about a million barrels of oil a day. Phase 2 expansion in Horizon as well as its thermal projects, gives it a really good line of sight for amping up its production with another 250 million barrels by 2017. This will mean an extra $2 billion per year of free cash flow available, which could be used for increasing dividends or further asset purchases. Also, have a nice handful of royalty assets that could be spun out. Yield of 1.89%.
Chart shows the trend has been upwards. This has a lot of positive technical things that you want to see in a Canadian energy stock. The 1st period of strength is late January right through until May. It then takes a break, and around the 3rd or 4th week of July it has another move on the upside. Look for this one to stabilize around current levels, but look for another opportunity to add as you get into late July.
We have had a huge run in the energy sector. Has been saying for a couple of months that it has been overbought, but has been wrong. However, looking forward 5-8 years, oil prices are trading in the low $80’s, not $100+. So the outlook down the road is for huge supply in North America. Looking at a longer-term chart on this company, we have to recognize that we are up against some pretty major highs from past rally cycles, so he doesn’t see much upside here. We should get a pullback, in the lower $40’s, before getting interested. This applies to all large-cap Canadian names that focus on the oil sands.
His “Reduce” support line is $47 and his “Sell” line is $44.90. Chart shows a nice upward trend. All the moving averages are running up parallel. There was a little bit of consolidation around the beginning of May, and broke out to the upside in the beginning of June. He can see this continuing to go up.
On their investor day, it was driven home that the company is now in a position where they are going to be generating a tremendous amount of free cash flow, because the assets that they have are very long life, low decline, and have a wide variety of assets. Also, has been a very sharp increase in dividend payments they have been making. Yield of 1.88%. Large royalty portfolio could be valued at PrairieSky levels.
He likes this. Oil companies like this have had some pretty good quarters. It now has a habit of kicking money back to investors with share buybacks and dividends. Also, has some great property. Good management. Good balance sheet. The one thing that could be coming up with this is the royalty trust. (See Top Picks.)
(A Top Pick Aug 26/13. Up 51.67%.) Spent a good part of 2013 in the penalty box. A very, very well-managed company. Diversified across natural gas, heavy oil and light oil. Growing dividend and growing production. This is still a Buy at current levels.