SU
Suncor Energy Inc.
Oil & Gas Integrated
Market Cap$75.67B
5Y Perf.+273.9%
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Stock Comparison
SU vs CNQ
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CNQ
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
Market Cap$93.39B
5Y Perf.+392.0%
SU vs CNQ — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | SU | CNQ |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Oil & Gas Integrated | Oil & Gas Exploration & Production |
| Market Cap | $75.67B | $93.39B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $52.01B | $41.50B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $6.33B | $10.82B |
| Gross Margin | 55.5% | 30.1% |
| Operating Margin | 27.4% | 27.8% |
| Forward P/E | 7.5x | 7.7x |
| Total Debt | $18.37B | $19.71B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $3.65B | $672M |
SU vs CNQ — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
SU
CNQ
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) | 100 | 373.9 | +273.9% |
| Canadian Natural Re… (CNQ) | 100 | 492.0 | +392.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SU vs CNQ
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CNQ leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Suncor Energy Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
SU
Suncor Energy Inc.
The Defensive Pick
SU is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night and defensive.
- Lower volatility, beta -0.03, Low D/E 40.7%, current ratio 1.39x
- Beta -0.03, yield 2.6%, current ratio 1.39x
- Lower P/E (7.5x vs 7.7x)
Best for: sleep-well-at-night and defensive
CNQ
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
The Income Pick
CNQ carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta -0.02, yield 3.8%
- Rev growth 8.6%, EPS growth 81.1%, 3Y rev CAGR -7.9%
- 302.8% 10Y total return vs SU's 197.4%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CNQ | 8.6% revenue growth vs SU's -3.5% |
| Value | SU | Lower P/E (7.5x vs 7.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | CNQ | 26.1% margin vs SU's 12.2% |
| Stability / Safety | SU | Lower D/E ratio (40.7% vs 44.5%) |
| Dividends | CNQ | 3.8% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs SU's 2.6% |
| Momentum (1Y) | SU | +92.7% vs CNQ's +61.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CNQ | 12.5% ROA vs SU's 7.0%, ROIC 10.0% vs 20.1% |
SU vs CNQ — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
SU vs CNQ — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSULAGGINGCNQ
CNQCanadian Natural Reso…
1leads
SUSuncor Energy Inc.
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs CNQMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
CNQ4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
SU5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
SU6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
SU4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
SU2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CNQ leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SU and CNQ operate at a comparable scale, with $52.0B and $41.5B in trailing revenue. CNQ is the more profitable business, keeping 26.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SU's 12.2%. On growth, SU holds the edge at +25.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SUSuncor Energy Inc. | CNQCanadian Natural … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $52.0B | $41.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $21.7B | $21.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $6.3B | $10.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $7.2B | $8.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +55.5% | +30.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +27.4% | +27.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.2% | +26.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +13.9% | +20.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +25.1% | -13.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +30.1% | +3.7% |
CNQ leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
SU leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 11.8x trailing earnings, CNQ trades at a 34% valuation discount to SU's 17.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, SU's 5.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CNQ's 8.1x.
| Metric | SUSuncor Energy Inc. | CNQCanadian Natural … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $75.7B | $93.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $86.5B | $107.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 17.93x | 11.84x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 7.50x | 7.66x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 5.13x | 8.15x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.11x | 3.29x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.35x | 2.89x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 14.92x | 15.13x |
SU leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SU leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CNQ delivers a 26.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $26 in annual profit, vs $14 for SU. SU carries lower financial leverage with a 0.41x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CNQ's 0.44x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CNQ scores 8/9 vs SU's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | SUSuncor Energy Inc. | CNQCanadian Natural … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +14.0% | +26.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.0% | +12.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +20.1% | +10.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +19.5% | +10.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.41x | 0.44x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $14.7B | $19.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3.6B | $672M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $18.4B | $19.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 11.68x | 10.52x |
SU leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SU leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CNQ five years ago would be worth $30,375 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $30,099 for SU. Over the past 12 months, SU leads with a +92.7% total return vs CNQ's +61.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SU at 31.8% vs CNQ's 20.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SUSuncor Energy Inc. | CNQCanadian Natural … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +40.8% | +31.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +92.7% | +61.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +128.8% | +73.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +201.0% | +203.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +197.4% | +302.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +31.8% | +20.1% |
SU leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SU leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SU is the less volatile stock with a -0.03 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CNQ's -0.02 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SU currently trades 90.7% from its 52-week high vs CNQ's 87.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SUSuncor Energy Inc. | CNQCanadian Natural … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | -0.11x | -0.09x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $70.29 | $51.34 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $33.50 | $28.27 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +90.7% | +87.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 48.7 | 47.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.6M | 11.4M |
SU leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — SU and CNQ each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SU as "Buy" and CNQ as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply -2.7% upside for SU (target: $62) vs -21.8% for CNQ (target: $35). For income investors, CNQ offers the higher dividend yield at 3.80% vs SU's 2.64%.
| Metric | SUSuncor Energy Inc. | CNQCanadian Natural … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $62.00 | $35.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 31 | 37 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.6% | +3.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.30 | $2.32 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.0% | +1.1% |
Evenly matched — SU and CNQ each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
SU leads in 4 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). CNQ leads in 1 (Income & Cash Flow). 1 tied.
Best OverallSuncor Energy Inc. (SU)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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SU vs CNQ: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SU or CNQ a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNQ) is the stronger pick with 8.
6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 5% for Suncor Energy Inc. (SU). Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNQ) offers the better valuation at 11. 8x trailing P/E (7. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) a "Buy" — based on 31 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — SU or CNQ?
On trailing P/E, Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNQ) is the cheapest at 11.
8x versus Suncor Energy Inc. at 17. 9x. On forward P/E, Suncor Energy Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SU or CNQ?
Over the past 5 years, Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNQ) delivered a total return of +203.
8%, compared to +201. 0% for Suncor Energy Inc. (SU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CNQ returned +301. 0% versus SU's +198. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — SU or CNQ?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Suncor Energy Inc.
(SU) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 11β versus Canadian Natural Resources Limited's -0. 09β — meaning CNQ is approximately -18% more volatile than SU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 41% versus 44% for Canadian Natural Resources Limited — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — SU or CNQ?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNQ) is pulling ahead at 8.
6% versus -3. 5% for Suncor Energy Inc. (SU). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Canadian Natural Resources Limited grew EPS 81. 1% year-over-year, compared to 2. 8% for Suncor Energy Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SU leads at -5. 7% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — SU or CNQ?
Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNQ) is the more profitable company, earning 27.
9% net margin versus 12. 1% for Suncor Energy Inc. — meaning it keeps 27. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SU leads at 31. 7% versus 21. 2% for CNQ. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SU leads at 59. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is SU or CNQ more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Suncor Energy Inc.
(SU) trades at 7. 5x forward P/E versus 7. 7x for Canadian Natural Resources Limited — 0. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SU: -2. 7% to $62. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — SU or CNQ?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNQ) offers the highest yield at 3. 8%, versus 2. 6% for Suncor Energy Inc. (SU).
09Is SU or CNQ better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNQ) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.
09), 3. 8% yield, +301. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CNQ: +301. 0%, SU: +198. 4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between SU and CNQ?
Both stocks operate in the Energy sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(SU: 25.1% · CNQ: -13.2%)Net Margin>
%
(SU: 12.2% · CNQ: 26.1%)P/E Ratio<
x
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