Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. vs Vistra Corp — how do they compare? Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. trades at $47.81 (market cap $98.11B), while Vistra Corp trades at $146.35 (market cap $48.64B). The key difference: Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. is far larger — about 2× Vistra Corp's market cap, and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. pays the higher dividend (3.73%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNQ | VST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $98.11B | $48.64B |
Sector | Energy | Technology |
52-Week High | $50.55 | $217.92 |
52-Week Low | $29.31 | $134.71 |
Enterprise Value | $108.54B | $70.58B |
Dividend Yield | 3.73% | 0.63% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) trades at $47.845, up 1.26% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong earnings momentum after Q2 2026 EPS beat estimates. The company shows robust profitability with a 22.87% net margin and 26.69% ROE, supported by record production and disciplined capital spending. Recent news highlights dividend reliability and operational strength, with analyst consensus heavily favoring buy ratings.
CNQ presents a compelling investment case with attractive valuation (P/E 11.82), consistent dividend payouts, and positive cash flow trends. Key risks include oil price volatility and rising debt levels, but the company's scale and efficiency underpin resilience. Wall Street optimism, with 27 buy ratings, suggests further upside potential amid stable energy demand.
VST trades at $146.36, up 2.44% with mixed technical signals showing bearish moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings with $1.767 billion adjusted EBITDA, beating expectations, while maintaining 2026 guidance. Valuation metrics show a P/E of 24.44 and robust profitability with 75.73% ROE, though recent earnings have been inconsistent with two misses in the last four quarters.
VST presents a compelling growth story driven by data center power demand and nuclear assets, with 90.9% analyst buy ratings and a $239.75 price target suggesting 64% upside. Key risks include ERCOT pricing volatility and hedging losses, while institutional interest remains strong with recent strategic acquisitions positioning the company for AI infrastructure growth.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Canadian Natural Resources is one of the largest oil and natural gas producers in western Canada, supplemented by operations in the North Sea and Offshore Africa. The company's portfolio includes light and medium oil, heavy oil, bitumen, synthetic oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas. Production averaged 1.16 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2020, and the company estimates that it holds over 11.5 billion boe of proven and probable crude oil and natural gas reserves.
Read more on CNQ →Vistra is a leading integrated retail electricity and power generation company that serves as a critical infrastructure provider for the digital economy. It operates a diversified portfolio of zero-carbon nuclear and renewable assets alongside a massive, flexible natural gas fleet, positioning it as an indispensable partner for energy-intensive AI data centers and industrial electrification.
Read more on VST →