Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) vs California Resources Corporation (CRC) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CRC | 5.1% revenue growth vs SU's -3.6% |
| Value | SU | Lower P/E (14.8x vs 45.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | SU | 11.9% net margin vs CRC's 10.9% |
| Stability / Safety | SU | Beta 0.73 vs CRC's 1.26 |
| Dividends | SU | 3.0% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs CRC's 2.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | SU | +52.0% vs CRC's +35.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SU | 6.6% ROA vs CRC's 5.7%, ROIC 10.4% vs 14.5% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Suncor Energy is an integrated Canadian energy company that develops oil sands resources and operates across the full energy value chain. It generates revenue primarily from oil sands production (~60% of operating earnings), complemented by exploration and production assets, and refining/marketing operations through its Petro-Canada retail network. The company's key advantage is its integrated business model—controlling production, upgrading, refining, and retail distribution—which provides operational stability and cost efficiencies across volatile energy cycles.
California Resources Corporation is an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company focused exclusively on California. It generates revenue primarily from crude oil sales (~60%), natural gas and natural gas liquids (~25%), and electricity generation from its cogeneration facilities (~15%). The company's key advantage is its extensive mineral acreage position—approximately 1.9 million net acres—in a mature, high-barrier-to-entry California market with established infrastructure.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
SU leads in 5 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). CRC leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
SU is the larger business by revenue, generating $49.7B annually — 14.1x CRC's $3.5B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 11.9% (SU) to 10.9% (CRC). On growth, SU holds the edge at -4.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SUSuncor Energy Inc. | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $49.7B | $3.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $15.5B | $1.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $5.9B | $384M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $6.9B | $545M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +42.7% | +37.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +16.1% | +21.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.9% | +10.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +13.9% | +15.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -4.0% | -11.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +89.2% | -79.9% |
Valuation Metrics
At 12.7x trailing earnings, CRC trades at a 20% valuation discount to SU's 15.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, SU's 6.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CRC's 4761.3x.
| Metric | SUSuncor Energy Inc. | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $67.3B | $5.36T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $78.0B | $5.36T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 15.95x | 12.74x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 14.81x | 45.26x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.90x | 4761.27x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.88x | 1812.76x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.09x | 1.35x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.30x | 9999.00x |
Profitability & Efficiency
SU delivers a 13.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $13 in annual profit, vs $11 for CRC. CRC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.35x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SU's 0.41x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SU scores 6/9 vs CRC's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | SUSuncor Energy Inc. | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +13.1% | +11.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.6% | +5.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.4% | +14.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.1% | +13.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.41x | 0.35x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $14.7B | $851M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3.6B | $372M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $18.4B | $1.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 12.93x | 5.95x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in SU five years ago would be worth $31,433 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $24,361 for CRC. Over the past 12 months, SU leads with a +52.0% total return vs CRC's +35.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SU at 22.2% vs CRC's 14.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SUSuncor Energy Inc. | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +24.0% | +26.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +52.0% | +35.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +82.6% | +49.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +214.3% | +143.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +181.2% | +1037.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +22.2% | +14.3% |
Risk & Volatility
SU is the less volatile stock with a 0.73 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CRC's 1.26 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | SUSuncor Energy Inc. | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.73x | 1.26x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $57.13 | $60.03 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $30.79 | $30.97 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.9% | +98.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 61.8 | 61.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.2M | 696K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SU as "Buy" and CRC as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 11.7% upside for CRC (target: $66) vs 9.7% for SU (target: $62). For income investors, SU offers the higher dividend yield at 2.97% vs CRC's 2.36%.
| Metric | SUSuncor Energy Inc. | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $62.00 | $65.71 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 31 | 23 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.0% | +2.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.30 | $1.39 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.4% | +0.0% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) | 100 | 190.11 | +90.1% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | 100 | 843.06 | +743.1% |
Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) returned +214% over 5 years vs California Resource… (CRC)'s +144%. A $10,000 investment in SU 5 years ago would be worth $31,433 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) | $26.8B | $48.9B | +82.3% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | $1.8B | $3.0B | +68.7% |
Suncor Energy Inc.'s revenue grew from $26.8B (2016) to $48.9B (2025) — a 6.9% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) | 1.6% | 12.1% | +647.4% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | 15.9% | 12.7% | -20.1% |
Suncor Energy Inc.'s net margin went from 2% (2016) to 12% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) | 13.7 | 9.1 | -33.6% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | 2.5 | 11.2 | +348.0% |
Suncor Energy Inc. has traded in a 5x–18x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~16x. California Resources Corporation has traded in a 1x–11x P/E range over 6 years; current trailing P/E is ~13x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) | 0.27 | 4.85 | +1696.3% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | 6.76 | 4.62 | -31.7% |
Suncor Energy Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.27 (2016) to $4.85 (2025) — a 38% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Suncor Energy Inc. generated $7B FCF in 2025 (-4% vs 2021). California Resources Corporation generated $350M FCF in 2024 (-25% vs 2021).
SU vs CRC: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SU or CRC a better buy right now?
California Resources Corporation (CRC) offers the better valuation at 12.7x trailing P/E (45.3x 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 CRC?
On trailing P/E, California Resources Corporation (CRC) is the cheapest at 12.7x versus Suncor Energy Inc. at 15.9x. On forward P/E, Suncor Energy Inc. is actually cheaper at 14.8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SU or CRC?
Over the past 5 years, Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) delivered a total return of +214.3%, compared to +143.6% for California Resources Corporation (CRC). A $10,000 investment in SU five years ago would be worth approximately $31K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CRC returned +1037% versus SU's +181.2%. 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 CRC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) is the lower-risk stock at 0.73β versus California Resources Corporation's 1.26β — meaning CRC is approximately 73% more volatile than SU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, California Resources Corporation (CRC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 35% versus 41% for Suncor Energy Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — SU or CRC?
California Resources Corporation (CRC) is the more profitable company, earning 12.7% net margin versus 12.1% for Suncor Energy Inc. — meaning it keeps 12.7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CRC leads at 22.0% versus 16.3% for SU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SU leads at 43.4%, 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.
06Is SU or CRC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) trades at 14.8x forward P/E versus 45.3x for California Resources Corporation — 30.4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CRC: 11.7% to $65.71.
07Which pays a better dividend — SU or CRC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) offers the highest yield at 3.0%, versus 2.4% for California Resources Corporation (CRC).
08Is SU or CRC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, California Resources Corporation (CRC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.26), 2.4% yield, +1037% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CRC: +1037%, SU: +181.2%), 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.
09What are the main differences between SU and CRC?
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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