EN DE
STOCK COMPARISON

Canadian Natural Resources vs Valero Energy: Fair Value & Quality

Both stocks run through our valuation models. Here is how Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) and Valero Energy (VLO) compare, as of Sep 6, 2026.

As of Sep 6, 2026, Fair Value Calculator sees Canadian Natural Resources as the less overvalued of the two: Canadian Natural Resources trades at $50.46 versus a fair value of $31.77 (-37%), while Valero Energy trades at $371 versus $127 (-66%).
Canadian Natural Resources
CNQ · USD · Energy
-37%
upside to fair value
overvalued
Price$50.46
Fair Value$31.77
Quality72/100
Valero Energy
VLO · USD · Energy
-66%
upside to fair value
overvalued
Price$371
Fair Value$127
Quality66/100
Get comparisons like this free by email every month: the most undervalued quality stocks.

Head-to-head numbers

Green value = the better side for that row (for valuation multiples: lower = cheaper).

Canadian Natural ResourcesValero Energy
Valuation
13.0×P/E (TTM)22.6×
2.29×P/S (TTM)0.78×
2.31×P/B3.88×
6.2×EV/EBITDA10.5×
3.42×PEG4.08×
−37.0%Fair value upside−65.7%
4.7%Dividend yield1.2%
$2.39Dividend per share$4.59
Profitability
43%Operating margin6%
27%Return on equity16%
8%Return on assets6%
Growth
70%Revenue growth (YoY)7%
-3.7%Avg. growth/yr (3Y)-11.4%
20.4%Avg. growth/yr (5Y)13.6%
+18.1%Value creation/yr+14.5%
Balance & size
7.9×Interest coverage (EBIT/interest)7.8×
0.37×Debt / equity0.41×
$102BMarket cap$92B
mixedGrowth qualityweak

Canadian Natural Resources leads: 14 to 1 metric wins.

Dash = not meaningfully computable, for example with negative equity.

Quality in detail

The quality score, broken down into the same factor families as on the stock page, 0 to 100 per family.

Canadian Natural Resourcesof which business quality 68 · market factors 77 Valero Energyof which business quality 64 · market factors 93
ProfitabilityMargins and returns on capital today
61
43
Quality GrowthAre margins and returns improving?
73
36
CashflowEarnings quality: real cash, not paper profit
69
61
Fin. StrengthBalance sheet, leverage, solvency risk
62
63
InvestmentDisciplined investing over empire-building
57
100
Low VolatilityCalm price path (market factor)
68
75
MomentumPrice trend over the last 3–12 months (market factor)
71
100
52W MomentumDistance to the 52-week high (market factor)
98
100
Net IssuanceBuybacks instead of dilution
92
100

What the models say

How far the median fair value (base case) per model family sits from the current price, in percent. The amount in the currency of the trading venue is shown underneath.

above the price, more than 15% above close to the price, 85% to 115% of the price below the price, more than 15% below

Model familyCanadian Natural ResourcesPrice $50.46Valero EnergyPrice $371
DCF Models+52%above the price$76.78-35%below the price$240
Earnings-Based+38%above the price$69.86-72%below the price$103
Dividend Discount-18%below the price$41.54n/a
Multiples-30%below the price$35.55-64%below the price$134
Asset-Based-71%below the price$14.41-86%below the price$53.53
Growth DCF+28%above the price$64.39-19%below the price$300
Economic Profit-30%below the price$35.29-69%below the price$113
Growth Earnings+73%above the price$87.51-68%below the price$119
Minimum-71%below the price$14.41-86%below the price$53.53
Maximum+73%above the price$87.51-19%below the price$300
Median+5%close to the price$52.97-68%below the price$119
Geometric mean-7%close to the price$46.72-64%below the price$133

Minimum, maximum, median and geometric mean refer to the family values in this table. Geometric because deviations are ratios: half the price and twice the price average to 100%, not 125%.

Canadian Natural Resources: 14 of 26 models see the stock below the current price.

Valero Energy: 24 of 24 models see the stock below the current price.

Scenario ranges

From our cautious bear case to the optimistic bull case. The white tick is the current price: left of fair value means room to run.

Canadian Natural Resources
Bear $24.61Fair Value $31.77Bull $82.22
$50.46 = current price (white tick)
Valero Energy
Bear $89.58Fair Value $127Bull $165
$371 = current price (white tick)

Compare two other stocks

Tap a field and type again, ticker or company name.

Free, no sign-up

Ranked within their sector

Where each stock sits within its sector peer group. Band = middle 50% of peers, tick = median, dot = this stock.

Canadian Natural Resources · Energy

Quality score72 · Top 25%
Fair value upside-37% · below median

Valero Energy · Energy

Quality score66 · Top 25%
Fair value upside-66% · bottom 25%

Bottom line

As of Sep 6, 2026, Fair Value Calculator sees Canadian Natural Resources as the less overvalued of the two: Canadian Natural Resources trades at $50.46 versus a fair value of $31.77 (-37%), while Valero Energy trades at $371 versus $127 (-66%).

Canadian Natural Resources has the higher quality score (72/100).

See the full analysis →

More comparisons

Popular match-ups from the same sectors, all with fair value and quality score.

Free · Top-25 report

See the undervalued quality stocks every month

Just your email for the monthly Top-25 report of the most undervalued quality stocks, with fair value, quality and price target. Plus 14 days of Pro to try, no card.

Free. You confirm by email (double opt-in) and can unsubscribe anytime in one click. Not financial advice.

A model-based valuation snapshot from 26 models. Values change with price and fundamentals; the date shown above applies.