Canada’s Best Energy Dividend Stocks 2023

Canada’s energy stocks have been a key part of my investing strategy for some time now.

In August of 2020 I asked if Canada’s energy dividends were in trouble?

Of course that was before energy prices and energy stocks were dominating the headlines. At the time Canadian oil prices were about $30 a barrel and energy dividends were under a lot of pressure due to collapsed earnings.

That price has more than tripled, was above $115 U.S. and now sits near $70 U.S. in 2023. Those generous oil prices have fuelled incredible earnings and dividend growth. There is no sector over the last few years with greater free cash flow.

The oil and gas sector was also the only sector in Canada to provide positive total returns in 2022. This came as no surprise, as energy is the only sector known to provide reliable inflation protection.

That said, the price of oil has been coming down thanks to the rising rate environment that is designed to cool economic activity and by extension bring down troubling inflation. We have global recession fears and the Chinese lack of demand has also weighed on oil prices.

The following chart reflects the price of Canadian oil priced in U.S. dollars. In Canadian dollars the price is in the $57 range.

Here is a video that explains the spread (difference in prices) between Canadian oil and U.S. oil.

Higher oil prices are wonderful for top Canadian energy companies, mostly operating or active in the Canadian oil sands, but many of the producers also have global operations. They have already become free cash flow gushers. More investors, fund managers and retail investors are going along for the ride.

While the last year hasn’t exactly been spectacular (with the TSX Capped Index ETF XEG down 16%), I’m still up over 270% since I started writing about Canadian energy stocks in August of 2020.  That’s before we really dig into the juicy dividend raises and special dividends that poured into my brokerage account over the last few years.

In October of 2020, on my blog, I had suggested that investors take a look at Canadian oil and gas stocks:

Canadian investors who went against the flow were rewarded handsomely, and it was not as big a risk as many would think. The macroeconomic and energy-specific story was quite simple.

Economic activity and energy usage was certain to pick up as we made our way through the pandemic. Canadian energy producers were made more lean and mean by the tough years in the energy patch. They had already spent the required amounts (CAPEX investments) to make their oil projects viable and profitable at lower oil prices. If prices do get to $50 a barrel and more, they have a license to print money.

Canada’s Largest Energy Stocks Comparison

As you can tell from the chart above, if you’re a risk averse dividend investor, Canadian pipeline stocks are a much more stable bet (although potentially with much less of an upside) over the medium- and long-term.

Mike Heroux – the man behind DSR – is a CFA and has been studying Canada’s dividend players for several decades. His free webinars on the value of the mid-stream pipeline companies (they’re not building any more of them) versus the mercurial nature of the oil companies themselves really makes sense. You can read our full Dividend Stock Rocks reviewhere.

The Long Term Strength of Energy Stock Dividends

The story on energy stocks has evolved, in that our green desires do not match the energy reality. Today there are reasonable fears of an energy crunch that could turn into an energy crisis. The renewable energy transition will take a decade or two.

In the meantime we have increasing demand for oil and gas and greatly decreased CAPEX – there’s little desire to look for more oil and gas. In fact, it’s politically unfashionable to suggest that we need more oil and gas, or to spend the time and money necessary to find and produce more oil and gas.

That sets up a secular and positive trend for traditional oil and gas. It is an unfortunate reality.

The story goes back to the most basic economic principle – supply and demand.

On the bullish side, Eric Nuttall, portfolio manager at NinePoint Partners suggests it is a generational investment opportunity. Eric often reminds us that the free cash flow that many of these companies produce is beyond generous, it is ridiculous. They can quickly pay down debt, buy back shares and return more value to shareholders by way of generous dividend increases.

The Big Oil Dividend Stocks Idea

Looking at returns for Canada’s “Big 3” oil stocks over the last year have been eye-opening.

Here is the portfolio income chart from that post, with a hypothetical starting amount of $10,000. It is an equal weight portfolio of The Big 3. We see that there was no oil drought, no oil recession for the investor that went ‘big’ with their Canadian energy stock buys. I had suggested that ridiculous dividend growth was likely to arrive, and well, here ya go. Dividend gushers!

We see year-over-year dividend growth of 53%. Here’s the recent dividend activity for the Big 3 energy stocks on the TSX, being among the best Canadian dividend stocks of 2022.

In early November, Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) increased the dividend by 13%. That was a follow up to a 27.6% increase in March. Then, throw in a special dividend of $1.50 per share that was paid in August.

One might suggest they have more free cash flow than they know what to do with. But they DO know what to do: Hand it over to shareholders.

Another one of the best energy stocks in Canada, Suncor (SUO) just increased the dividend by 11%. This is the second raise in 2022, the previous dividend increase being 11.90%. We have a 23.80% dividend increase for 2022.

If we want to consider the Big 3 Canadian energy stocks in Canada, we also include Imperial Oil (IMO). IMO was recently upgraded at BMO as Q3 unleashed a cash bonanza. IMO offered a 29% dividend increase in late October. That was a follow up to a 25.9% increase announced in March.

After taking some wonderful profits in oil and gas stocks I moved to the energy dividend approach. I did and would invite Tourmaline (TOU) to join the Big 3 oil dividend stocks discussed above to make it the Big 4. Tourmaline is known as one of the best run Canadian energy companies.

We would also add more natural gas exposure. There is a benefit to adding the best Canadian natural gas stocks to the portfolio. Natural gas demand may prove more resilient (compared to oil) over the coming decades.

Here’s the recent dividend history for Tourmaline.

That’s nothing short of incredible. Tourmaline would have added a dividend boost to the Big 3 Canadian energy stocks. We would also see an increase in total returns by going Big 4 over Big 3. Tourmaline has outperformed all of the Big 3 in 2021 and in 2022.

I had suggested that Canadian gas and oil stocks had the potential to be the greatest source of dividend growth within the Canadian market. That is playing out in spades. Of course Canadian investors were also keeping an eye on Canadian bank stocks.

Regulators had forced the banks to suspend dividend increases and share buybacks during the pandemic. Those restrictions were removed, and we were treated to double digit dividend growth for Canadian banks and financials.

We expect more dividend growth announcements in 2023.

What if You Had Invested In the Big 4 Energy Stocks?

From the time of my original Best Energy Stocks in Canada post, you would have seen some generous (and growing) income. That said, you would also have total returns of 270% leaving the TSX Composite in the dust.

Adding the Best Canadian Pipeline Stocks to My Portfolio

In addition to my list of best oil dividend stocks, I also hold Enbridge (ENB) and TC Energy (TRP). You’ll find those companies in the portfolio that focuses on Canadian Wide Moat Stocks and are stellar Canadian dividend all stars.

As I have previously offered on Million Dollar Journey, pipelines can provide a modest inflation hedge. But they do not have quite the torque of the oil and natural gas stocks.

In the following evaluation I used Enbridge, TC Energy and Pembina (the big 3) for the pipeline group. Returns for 2022:

• The Big 4 – up 57.70%
• Pipelines – up 12.7%
• TSX Composite – down 5.8%

Of course, the best Canadian pipeline stocks are favourites of Canadian investors. The companies offer very generous and reliable dividends. The current yields available are very enticing, as well.

Back in 2020, I had suggested that I would stick with being a toll taker, collecting tolls and dividends by way of those pipelines that move the oil and gas around North America. Of course, Enbridge and TC Energy are much more diversified and do have energy producing operations as well.

But the energy dividend stocks story just became too overwhelming and obvious for me. While I was late to eat my own cooking, I started to build positions in the iShares XEG and Nuttall’s Ninepoint energy ETF.

We enjoyed very nice returns in the range of 100% to 150% in those accounts. But more important than the dividend and total return potential is the fact that we (my wife and family) are hedged against any energy crunch and crisis.

Escalating prices at the pump are not a risk for us. Our energy exposure pays for our gas bill, we then have very generous profits. We make money at the pumps.

My guess is that the greater theme of ongoing higher prices for oil and gas continue, and this may turn out to be a very solid and profitable portfolio bolt-on. It’s part of the explore within the core and explore portfolio approach. And again, I’d add the word hedge in concert with the explore notion.

Our energy producer and pipeline exposure works with our other commodities allocation that includes gold, gold stocks and the larger baskets of commodities. I will not get side-swiped by inflation or stagflation.

The Canadian Energy Stocks Dividend Portfolio

I’m happy to hedge inflation and accept those risks. I now have an 11% allocation – not including the generous toll-taking by way of my Canadian pipeline stocks. And given that I am in the semi-retirement stage (my wife is within 5 years of retirement) I am glad that I moved to the energy dividend stocks approach.

In addition to the Big 4, I also hold positions in Birchcliff Energy (BIR) Freehold Royalties (FRU) and Pine Cliff Energy (PNE). I also hold the Ninepoint Energy Income ETF (NRGI) that holds more U.S. stocks. I’m happy to have that added exposure.

Here’s a list of some current yields available in the space.

Canadian Energy Stocks By Dividend Yield

• Whitecap (WCP.TO) 6.09%
• Suncor (SU.TO) 5.20%
• Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ.TO) 4.90%
• Imperial Oil (IMO.TO) 3.02%
• Tourmaline (TOU.TO) 1.70%

I’ll admit to being a hybrid investor in retirement – embracing dividends and total return while managing the sequence of returns risk (adding bonds and cash). I believe that the energy stocks dividend income stream will help the retirement cause. The energy and commodities exposure is part of the all-weather portfolio approach.

And of course there is risk, Canadian oil and natural gas stocks are cyclical and can be at the mercy of economic weakness and recessions. Experts that I follow suggest that the dividends could come under pressure if oil stays in the $50 U.S. per barrel for too long. Personally, I will use the current price weakness to add to my energy dividend portfolio.

We have recently entered a period of unexpected inflation. That is not a friendly environment for most types of stocks. Of course, no one knows how long that may last, or how bad things may get.

If you want some inflation and stagflation protection, the top Canadian energy companies are a great hedge. You can also look at a diversified inflation-fighting hedge such as the Purpose Diversified Real Asset ETF – ticker (PRA). PRA was up 23.5% in 2021 and tacked on another 15.9% in 2022.

Canadian Energy Stocks – FAQ