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Compared to Estimates, Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) Q1 Earnings: A Look at Key Metrics

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For the quarter ended March 2026, Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ - Free Report) reported revenue of $7.88 billion, up 3.4% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.85, compared to $0.81 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.49 billion, representing a surprise of +5.22%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +14.87%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.74.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Canadian Natural Resources performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
  • Production Volumes, before royalties - Crude Oil and NGLs - North America E&P - Light Crude Oil: 76.85 thousands of barrels of oil versus the two-analyst average estimate of 74.38 thousands of barrels of oil.
  • International Exploration and Production - Natural gas production: 2 thousands of barrels of oil versus 11.81 thousands of barrels of oil estimated by two analysts on average.
  • Production Volumes, before royalties - Crude Oil and NGLs - North America E&P - Primary Heavy: 93.82 thousands of barrels of oil versus the two-analyst average estimate of 91.76 thousands of barrels of oil.
  • Production Volumes, before royalties - Crude Oil and NGLs - North America E&P - Thermal In Situ: 274.67 thousands of barrels of oil versus 273.8 thousands of barrels of oil estimated by two analysts on average.
  • Production Volumes, before royalties - Crude Oil and NGLs - Oil Sands Mining and Upgrading: 587.95 thousands of barrels of oil versus the two-analyst average estimate of 598.98 thousands of barrels of oil.
  • Crude Oil and NGLs Sales Volumes - North America - NGLs: 117.37 thousands of barrels of oil versus the two-analyst average estimate of 115.29 thousands of barrels of oil.
  • Production Volumes, before royalties - Crude Oil and NGLs - International - North Sea: 4.83 thousands of barrels of oil compared to the 9.27 thousands of barrels of oil average estimate based on two analysts.
  • Production Volumes, before royalties - Crude Oil and NGLs - International - Offshore Africa: 2.04 thousands of barrels of oil versus the two-analyst average estimate of 2.8 thousands of barrels of oil.
  • Production Volumes, before royalties - Total crude oil and NGL: 1,198,079.00 BBL/D compared to the 1,208,025.00 BBL/D average estimate based on two analysts.
  • Production Volumes, before royalties - Total Natural Gas: 2670 millions of cubic feet versus the two-analyst average estimate of 2630.71 millions of cubic feet.
  • Production Volumes, before royalties - Natural Gas - North America: 2,668.00 Mcf/D compared to the 2,618.90 Mcf/D average estimate based on two analysts.
  • Production Volumes, before royalties - Natural Gas - International - North Sea: 2.00 Mcf/D versus 3.02 Mcf/D estimated by two analysts on average.

View all Key Company Metrics for Canadian Natural Resources here>>>

Shares of Canadian Natural Resources have returned -3.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +9.1% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.

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