Live Report · Updated January 26, 2026

Williams vs Canadian Natural

This page compares Williams Companies, Inc. and Canadian Natural Resources Limited, examining their business models, financial performance, and market context. It presents neutral, accessible insights into how each company operates, earns value, and positions itself within the energy sector. Educational content, not financial advice.

Comparison Snapshot

Key Financial Metrics

WMB

Metric

CNQ

$78.51B

Market Cap

$75.11B

3.75%

Potential Profit

-30.66%

Buy

Analyst Rating

Buy

Why It's Moving

Williams Companies gears up for Q4 earnings with analysts eyeing strong profit growth amid positive outlook.

Q4 diluted EPS expected at $0.57, up 21.3% YOY, highlighting resilient natural gas transportation amid energy sector tailwinds.
Full-year 2025 EPS forecast at $2.12, with 9.4% growth into 2026, underscoring long-term expansion potential.
22 analysts lean 'Moderate Buy' with a $69.35 mean target, bolstered by recent NESE project permits enhancing Northeast gas supply.

Sentiment:

🐃Bullish

CNQ Surges to 1-Year High on Reports of Major Natural Gas Acquisition Push

Regulatory filing with Canada's Competition Bureau flags CNQ's pursuit of Tourmaline's Peace River operations, including 2,428 wells and extensive pipeline network, for preliminary approval.
Stock climbed sharply on 5.7 million shares traded, breaking past prior highs and reflecting optimism over strategic expansion in natural gas amid favorable sector dynamics.
Deal talks position CNQ to capitalize on undervalued assets valued up to $1.4 billion, strengthening its infrastructure in Alberta's prolific Peace River region.

Sentiment:

🐃Bullish

Williams Companies gears up for Q4 earnings with analysts eyeing strong profit growth amid positive outlook.

Q4 diluted EPS expected at $0.57, up 21.3% YOY, highlighting resilient natural gas transportation amid energy sector tailwinds.
Full-year 2025 EPS forecast at $2.12, with 9.4% growth into 2026, underscoring long-term expansion potential.
22 analysts lean 'Moderate Buy' with a $69.35 mean target, bolstered by recent NESE project permits enhancing Northeast gas supply.

Sentiment:

🐃Bullish

CNQ Surges to 1-Year High on Reports of Major Natural Gas Acquisition Push

Regulatory filing with Canada's Competition Bureau flags CNQ's pursuit of Tourmaline's Peace River operations, including 2,428 wells and extensive pipeline network, for preliminary approval.
Stock climbed sharply on 5.7 million shares traded, breaking past prior highs and reflecting optimism over strategic expansion in natural gas amid favorable sector dynamics.
Deal talks position CNQ to capitalize on undervalued assets valued up to $1.4 billion, strengthening its infrastructure in Alberta's prolific Peace River region.

Sentiment:

🐃Bullish

Investment Analysis

Williams

WMB

Pros

Williams Companies has a diversified energy infrastructure portfolio across multiple U.S. regions, reducing geographic and operational risk.
The company shows strong profitability metrics, including a return on equity around 19.5%, well above its long-term average.
Williams maintains a solid dividend yield of approximately 3.5%, indicating consistent shareholder returns.

Considerations

The dividend payout ratio exceeds 100%, raising concerns about the sustainability of dividend payments over time.
Recent insider stock sales and low insider ownership may reflect weak management confidence in near-term stock prospects.
Higher valuation multiples compared to peers suggest the stock may be priced for growth, increasing valuation risk in volatile markets.

Canadian Natural

CNQ

Pros

Canadian Natural Resources Limited is a major integrated oil and gas producer with significant asset breadth in upstream operations.
It benefits from exposure to multiple commodity types, offering some natural hedge against oil and natural gas price fluctuations.
The company has a solid track record of free cash flow generation supporting growth investments and shareholder returns.

Considerations

Exposure to commodity price volatility can lead to considerable earnings fluctuation and operational risk.
Environmental regulations and transition risks pose challenges to long-term fossil fuel-reliant business models.
Capital-intensive nature of upstream oil and gas exploration leads to potentially high and fluctuating capital expenditure requirements.

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