Canadian Natural Resources Limited (TSE:CNQ) Given Average Recommendation of “Hold” by Analysts

Shares of Canadian Natural Resources Limited (TSE:CNQ) (NYSE:CNQ) have earned a consensus rating of “Hold” from the fifteen research firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and seven have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is C$74.31.

CNQ has been the subject of several research reports. Desjardins upgraded shares of Canadian Natural Resources from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price objective for the stock from C$56.00 to C$59.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 8th. National Bankshares lifted their price target on Canadian Natural Resources from C$52.00 to C$53.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 8th. TD Securities upped their price target on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$56.00 to C$58.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$49.00 to C$57.00 in a research report on Friday, October 11th. Finally, Gerdes Energy Research upped their target price on Canadian Natural Resources from C$53.00 to C$55.00 in a research report on Friday, November 1st.

Canadian Natural Resources Trading Up 2.3 %

Shares of TSE:CNQ opened at C$48.30 on Friday. Canadian Natural Resources has a 52-week low of C$40.02 and a 52-week high of C$56.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 29.64, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 0.88. The company has a market capitalization of C$102.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.89. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of C$47.35 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$58.91.

Canadian Natural Resources Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 3rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 13th will be given a dividend of $0.525 per share. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.35%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 13th. Canadian Natural Resources’s payout ratio is 60.97%.

Insider Transactions at Canadian Natural Resources

In related news, Senior Officer Devin Craig Lowe sold 3,750 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$49.04, for a total transaction of C$183,900.00. Also, Senior Officer Trevor Wagil sold 4,272 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$47.51, for a total value of C$202,966.99. 4.26% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About Canadian Natural Resources

Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers light and medium crude oil, primary heavy crude oil, Pelican Lake heavy crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), and synthetic crude oil (SCO).