Canadian Natural Boosts Quarterly Dividend After Q4 Profit Surge

Canadian Natural Resources reports $5.3B Q4 profit, raises quarterly dividend

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. reported a strong fourth-quarter profit of $5.30 billion, a significant increase from $1.14 billion the previous year. The company also announced an increase in its quarterly dividend to 62.5 cents per share, up from 58.75 cents. This payout reflects the firm’s strong cash generation despite some year-over-year changes in commodity markets.

The company posted earnings of $2.54 per diluted share for the quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with 54 cents per diluted share in the prior-year quarter. On an adjusted basis—excluding certain items—Canadian Natural reported 82 cents per diluted share from operations, down from 93 cents a year earlier.

Product sales for the quarter were $10.71 billion, slightly below the $11.06 billion reported in the fourth quarter of 2024. Production before royalties rose to 1,658,681 barrels of oil equivalent per day, up from 1,470,428 barrels a day a year earlier, reflecting increased output.

Retailer Pet Valu reports fourth-quarter profit up from year earlier, raises dividend

Pet Valu Holdings Ltd. reported a fourth-quarter profit of $29.4 million, slightly higher than the $28.9 million recorded a year earlier, and raised its quarterly dividend to 13 cents per share from 12 cents. The company earned 42 cents per diluted share for the 14-week period ended Jan. 3, compared with 40 cents per diluted share for the comparable 13-week period ending Dec. 28, 2024.

Revenue for the period rose to $326.4 million from $295.1 million the prior year, a gain that was aided in part by an extra week in the reporting period. Excluding that extra week, Pet Valu’s fourth-quarter revenue would have been $305.5 million. Same-store sales increased modestly by 0.3%.

On an adjusted basis, the company earned 49 cents per diluted share, up from an adjusted 45 cents per share a year earlier, reflecting modest operational improvement and steady demand for pet supplies and services.

George Weston reports $280M Q4 profit, revenue up 11%

George Weston Ltd. reported a fourth-quarter profit available to common shareholders of $280 million, with revenue rising 11% year over year to $16.54 billion. The earnings amounted to 72 cents per diluted share for the 13-week period ended Dec. 31, compared with $664 million or $1.68 per diluted share during the prior-year period.

On an adjusted basis, Weston reported $1.21 per diluted share, an increase from an adjusted $1.05 per diluted share in the same quarter last year. The company continues to benefit from Loblaw Cos. Ltd.’s customer growth and from stronger demand at Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust, where Weston holds a significant stake.

Canada Packers reports $23.2M Q4 profit, sales edged higher

Canada Packers Inc. posted a fourth-quarter profit of $23.2 million for the quarter ended Dec. 27, compared with $50.6 million and $1.70 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2024. The quarter’s earnings amounted to 78 cents per diluted share. Sales edged higher to $429.4 million from $424.0 million a year earlier, driven by increased volumes, higher average hog weights and favourable market pricing.

On an adjusted basis, Canada Packers earned 63 cents per share in the latest quarter, down from an adjusted 79 cents per share a year earlier. Canada Packers represents the pork operations that were spun off from Maple Leaf Foods Inc. into a separate, stand-alone company last year.

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