APA
Price
$37.63
Change
+$1.10 (+3.01%)
Updated
Aug 7 closing price
Capitalization
13.18B
87 days until earnings call
Intraday BUY SELL Signals
CNQ
Price
$45.51
Change
+$0.06 (+0.13%)
Updated
Aug 7 closing price
Capitalization
93.33B
81 days until earnings call
Intraday BUY SELL Signals
MGY
Price
$25.08
Change
+$0.33 (+1.33%)
Updated
Aug 7 closing price
Capitalization
5.94B
87 days until earnings call
Intraday BUY SELL Signals
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APA or CNQ or MGY

APA vs CNQ vs MGY Comparison Chart in %
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A.I.Advisor
Aug 03, 2026

Which Stock Would AI Choose? APA Corporation (APA) vs. Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNQ) vs. Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY) Stock Comparison

Key Takeaways

  • APA Corporation (APA), Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNQ), and Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY) are all independent oil and natural gas exploration and production companies operating in the energy sector, with exposure to commodity price fluctuations and operational efficiencies.
  • In recent market activity, CNQ has shown notable upward momentum with gains exceeding 17% over the past 30 days, while MGY has announced a significant acquisition and dividend increase, and APA has maintained steady positioning amid broader sector trends.
  • All three stocks benefit from oil and gas price environments but differ in geographic focus: CNQ with substantial Canadian operations including oil sands, MGY concentrated in South Texas shale plays, and APA with diversified international and U.S. assets.
  • Recent catalysts include upcoming earnings reports for CNQ and MGY in early August 2026, alongside MGY’s announced acquisition of WildFire Energy expected to close in the third quarter.
  • Valuation sensitivities vary, with CNQ trading at a premium on strong year-to-date returns, MGY offering dividend growth, and APA reflecting balanced risk-return characteristics typical of mid-sized producers.
  • Market sentiment across the trio remains tied to energy demand, production costs, and free cash flow generation rather than speculative growth narratives.

Introduction

This comparison examines APA Corporation (APA), Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNQ), and Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY), three publicly traded energy companies in the oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) space. The analysis focuses on their business models, recent relative performance, and positioning within the current commodity environment. Professional investors and active traders seeking to evaluate peers with similar sector exposure but differing operational scales, geographic footprints, and capital allocation strategies may find the comparison relevant for portfolio construction and risk assessment.

APA Overview and Recent Performance

APA Corporation (APA) is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas, with operations spanning the United States and international locations. In recent weeks, the stock has exhibited measured price behavior influenced by fluctuating crude oil prices and broader market sentiment toward the energy sector. Performance has reflected typical volatility associated with commodity-linked equities, with attention on operational execution and cost management. Sentiment has been shaped by ongoing production updates and the company’s ability to generate free cash flow amid variable energy prices.

CNQ Overview and Recent Performance

Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNQ) operates as a large-scale independent oil and natural gas producer with significant assets in Canada, including oil sands projects, as well as international holdings. Over recent market activity, the stock has demonstrated strong upward momentum, rising approximately 17.6% in the past 30 days amid favorable commodity conditions and operational results. Upcoming second-quarter earnings, scheduled for August 6, 2026, with consensus expectations for substantial year-over-year EPS growth, have contributed to positive sentiment. The company’s scale and production efficiency have supported relative outperformance within the peer group.

MGY Overview and Recent Performance

Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY) focuses on oil and natural gas exploration and production primarily in the Eagle Ford Shale and Austin Chalk formations in South Texas. Recent market activity has featured the announcement of a definitive agreement to acquire WildFire Energy for approximately $4.06 billion, expected to close late in the third quarter of 2026, alongside a 9% increase in the quarterly dividend to an annualized rate of $0.72 per share. The stock has shown moderate gains year-to-date, with upcoming second-quarter earnings slated for August 5, 2026, influencing investor attention on integration potential and cash return strategies.

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Head-to-Head Comparison

APA Corporation (APA), Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNQ), and Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY) share core exposure to oil and gas price cycles but diverge in scale and focus. CNQ operates at the largest scale with substantial Canadian oil sands assets, offering production stability but higher regulatory and environmental considerations compared to the U.S.-centric shale operations of MGY and the diversified portfolio of APA. Recent momentum has favored CNQ due to outsized 30-day gains, while MGY’s acquisition announcement introduces integration catalysts alongside dividend expansion. APA presents a middle-ground profile with balanced international diversification that may temper volatility relative to pure-play peers. Valuation sensitivity appears highest for CNQ following its rally, whereas MGY’s growth via acquisition and APA’s steady positioning offer distinct trade-offs in risk-adjusted exposure within the E&P sector.

Tickeron AI Verdict

Based on observable factors including recent trend consistency, upcoming earnings catalysts, and relative positioning within the energy sector, Tickeron’s AI would currently assign a probabilistic preference toward Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNQ). The stock’s demonstrated recovery momentum over the past 30 days and anticipated earnings growth provide measurable support, though outcomes remain dependent on commodity price stability and execution on production targets across all three names.

Disclaimer

The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.

Disclaimers and Limitations

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COMPARISON
Comparison
Aug 09, 2026
Stock price -- (APA: $37.63CNQ: $45.51MGY: $25.08)
Brand notoriety: APA and CNQ are notable and MGY is not notable
The three companies represent the Oil & Gas Production industry
Current volume relative to the 65-day Moving Average: APA: 70%, CNQ: 62%, MGY: 75%
Market capitalization -- APA: $13.18B, CNQ: $93.33B, MGY: $5.94B
$APA is valued at $13.18B, while CNQ has a market capitalization of $93.33B, and MGY's market capitalization is $5.94B. The market cap for tickers in this @Oil & Gas Production ranges from $141.29B to $0. The average market capitalization across the @Oil & Gas Production industry is $9.48B.

Long-Term Analysis

It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).

APA’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whileCNQ’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s), and MGY’s FA Score reflects 0 green FA rating(s).

  • APA’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
  • CNQ’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
  • MGY’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
According to our system of comparison, APA is a better buy in the long-term than MGY, which in turn is a better option than CNQ.

Short-Term Analysis

It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.

If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.

APA’s TA Score shows that 7 TA indicator(s) are bullish while CNQ’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s), and MGY’s TA Score reflects 5 bullish TA indicator(s).

  • APA’s TA Score: 7 bullish, 3 bearish.
  • CNQ’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
  • MGY’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 3 bearish.
According to our system of comparison, APA is a better buy in the short-term than MGY, which in turn is a better option than CNQ.

Price Growth

APA (@Oil & Gas Production) experienced а +0.83% price change this week, while CNQ (@Oil & Gas Production) price change was -4.55% , and MGY (@Oil & Gas Production) price fluctuated -2.45% for the same time period.

The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Oil & Gas Production industry was -1.94%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +1.24%, and the average quarterly price growth was +2.03%.

Reported Earning Dates

APA is expected to report earnings on Nov 04, 2026.

CNQ is expected to report earnings on Oct 29, 2026.

MGY is expected to report earnings on Nov 04, 2026.

Industries' Descriptions

@Oil & Gas Production (-1.94% weekly)

The oil and gas production segment includes companies that specialize in exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas. These companies are focused on upstream operations. Companies typically identify deposits, drill wells, and extract raw materials from underground. The industry also includes related services like rig operations, feasibility studies, machinery rentals etc. Several operators in this industry work with various types of contractors such as engineering procurement and construction contractors, as well as with joint-venture partners and oil field service companies. Oil and gas often involves large fixed costs of production; so, declining crude oil prices, for example, is a potential negative for this industry. Conoco Phillips, EOG Resources, Inc. and Pioneer Natural Resources Company are some examples of companies operating in this space.

SUMMARIES
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FUNDAMENTALS
Fundamentals
CNQ($93.3B) has a higher market cap than APA($13.2B) and MGY($5.94B). CNQ and MGY has higher P/E ratio than APA: CNQ (11.35) and MGY (10.95) vs APA (7.94). APA YTD gains are higher at: 57.446 vs. CNQ (34.446) and MGY (15.949). CNQ has higher annual earnings (EBITDA): 17.5B vs. APA (5.32B) and MGY (875M). APA has more cash in the bank: 154M vs. MGY (124M) and CNQ (113M). MGY has less debt than APA and CNQ: MGY (413M) vs APA (4.54B) and CNQ (17.3B). CNQ has higher revenues than APA and MGY: CNQ (44.5B) vs APA (8.61B) and MGY (1.32B).
APACNQMGY
Capitalization13.2B93.3B5.94B
EBITDA5.32B17.5B875M
Gain YTD57.44634.44615.949
P/E Ratio7.9411.3510.95
Revenue8.61B44.5B1.32B
Total Cash154M113M124M
Total Debt4.54B17.3B413M
FUNDAMENTALS RATINGS
APA vs CNQ vs MGY: Fundamental Ratings
APA
CNQ
MGY
OUTLOOK RATING
1..100
50869
VALUATION
overvalued / fair valued / undervalued
1..100
33
Fair valued
75
Overvalued
43
Fair valued
PROFIT vs RISK RATING
1..100
642847
SMR RATING
1..100
375354
PRICE GROWTH RATING
1..100
74460
P/E GROWTH RATING
1..100
355663
SEASONALITY SCORE
1..100
505050

Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.

APA's Valuation (33) in the Oil And Gas Production industry is in the same range as MGY (43) and is somewhat better than the same rating for CNQ (75). This means that APA's stock grew similarly to MGY’s and somewhat faster than CNQ’s over the last 12 months.

CNQ's Profit vs Risk Rating (28) in the Oil And Gas Production industry is in the same range as MGY (47) and is somewhat better than the same rating for APA (64). This means that CNQ's stock grew similarly to MGY’s and somewhat faster than APA’s over the last 12 months.

APA's SMR Rating (37) in the Oil And Gas Production industry is in the same range as CNQ (53) and is in the same range as MGY (54). This means that APA's stock grew similarly to CNQ’s and similarly to MGY’s over the last 12 months.

APA's Price Growth Rating (7) in the Oil And Gas Production industry is somewhat better than the same rating for CNQ (44) and is somewhat better than the same rating for MGY (60). This means that APA's stock grew somewhat faster than CNQ’s and somewhat faster than MGY’s over the last 12 months.

APA's P/E Growth Rating (35) in the Oil And Gas Production industry is in the same range as CNQ (56) and is in the same range as MGY (63). This means that APA's stock grew similarly to CNQ’s and similarly to MGY’s over the last 12 months.

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
Technical Analysis
APACNQMGY
RSI
ODDS (%)
Bullish Trend 6 days ago
76%
Bearish Trend 3 days ago
69%
Bullish Trend 3 days ago
81%
Stochastic
ODDS (%)
Bearish Trend 3 days ago
63%
Bullish Trend 3 days ago
79%
Bullish Trend 3 days ago
73%
Momentum
ODDS (%)
Bullish Trend 3 days ago
79%
Bearish Trend 3 days ago
76%
Bearish Trend 3 days ago
76%
MACD
ODDS (%)
Bullish Trend 5 days ago
79%
Bearish Trend 3 days ago
73%
Bullish Trend 3 days ago
63%
TrendWeek
ODDS (%)
Bullish Trend 3 days ago
76%
Bearish Trend 3 days ago
65%
Bearish Trend 3 days ago
65%
TrendMonth
ODDS (%)
Bullish Trend 3 days ago
77%
Bullish Trend 3 days ago
60%
Bearish Trend 3 days ago
67%
Advances
ODDS (%)
Bullish Trend 3 days ago
74%
Bullish Trend 3 days ago
66%
Bullish Trend 3 days ago
69%
Declines
ODDS (%)
Bearish Trend 5 days ago
69%
Bearish Trend 5 days ago
70%
Bearish Trend 5 days ago
66%
BollingerBands
ODDS (%)
Bearish Trend 3 days ago
71%
Bearish Trend 3 days ago
69%
Bullish Trend 3 days ago
73%
Aroon
ODDS (%)
Bullish Trend 3 days ago
73%
Bullish Trend 3 days ago
65%
Bearish Trend 3 days ago
79%
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APA
Daily Signal:
Gain/Loss:
CNQ
Daily Signal:
Gain/Loss:
MGY
Daily Signal:
Gain/Loss:
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APA and

Correlation & Price change

A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, APA has been closely correlated with OVV. These tickers have moved in lockstep 81% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if APA jumps, then OVV could also see price increases.

1D
1W
1M
1Q
6M
1Y
5Y
Ticker /
NAME
Correlation
To APA
1D Price
Change %
APA100%
+3.01%
OVV - APA
81%
Closely correlated
-0.84%
CHRD - APA
80%
Closely correlated
-0.87%
MUR - APA
79%
Closely correlated
+1.00%
MGY - APA
79%
Closely correlated
+1.33%
DVN - APA
79%
Closely correlated
-0.30%
More

MGY and

Correlation & Price change

A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, MGY has been closely correlated with CHRD. These tickers have moved in lockstep 85% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if MGY jumps, then CHRD could also see price increases.

1D
1W
1M
1Q
6M
1Y
5Y
Ticker /
NAME
Correlation
To MGY
1D Price
Change %
MGY100%
+1.33%
CHRD - MGY
85%
Closely correlated
-0.87%
OVV - MGY
81%
Closely correlated
-0.84%
MTDR - MGY
81%
Closely correlated
+0.82%
DVN - MGY
81%
Closely correlated
-0.30%
PR - MGY
81%
Closely correlated
-0.64%
More