CNX Resources Corporation research snapshot

CNX AI Stock Analysis

CNX AI stock analysis currently reads CNX Resources as a low-cost Appalachian Basin natural gas producer whose financial results improved sharply through 2025 and the first half of 2026. The stock closed at $35.80 on July 31, 2026, with a market capitalization near $5.30 billion. TTM net income reached about $949 million after FY2025 delivered $633 million of net income versus a $90 million loss in FY2024, and management repurchased about $200 million of stock in Q2 2026 alone. The company pays no dividend and instead returns cash through buybacks while carrying roughly $2.22 billion of long-term debt and only about $6 million of unrestricted cash. Q1 2026 NYMEX natural gas spiked to an average of $5.04 per MMBtu before settling back to $2.90 in Q2, which flattered recent earnings. With zero buy ratings among recent covering analysts, a consensus Hold, and short interest near 10% of shares, the market is pricing commodity-cycle risk, a weak Appalachian basis, and an uncertain gas demand outlook. This CNX Resources AI stock analysis is informational only and is not investment advice.

Current price

$35.80 (July 31, 2026 NYSE close)

Market cap

$5.30 billion, based on 147.94 million shares outstanding as of July 15, 2026 at $35.80

AI score

60 / 100

Rating

Hold: improved financials and buybacks offset by commodity-cycle risk, a weak Appalachian basis, and a very low cash balance

Trend status

Mixed to improving: price above the 50-day moving average but below the 200-day, RSI near 65, and Barchart at 56% Sell after improving from 72% Sell a month ago

Data cutoff (updated monthly)

August 4, 2026

Informational use only. This page is not investment advice.

Research quality check

information Richness
A-level information richness. CNX is an S&P 400 company with a long public history, dense SEC filings, 12 covering analysts, and heavy media coverage. The main gap is limited public detail on per-well economics and the New Tech environmental credit pipeline, so normalized earnings estimates carry more uncertainty than the reported GAAP figures.
bias Check
The main AI bias risk is anchoring on the low trailing P/E, which is flattered by a Q1 2026 natural gas price spike and unrealized derivative gains. The counter-check is whether forward earnings near $3 per share and free cash flow can support the enterprise value at current gas strip prices, and whether the very low cash balance is a genuine liquidity risk.
ai Confidence
High for reported market data, share count, revenue, net income, EBITDAX, net debt, production, and hedge positions. Medium for forward earnings and three-year scenario ranges because natural gas prices, the 2026 hedge roll, and capital spending can change the earnings base quickly.
investment Certainty
Low to medium. Financial quality is improving and buybacks are large, but the zero-dividend policy, the very low cash balance, a consensus Hold with zero buy ratings, and extreme commodity sensitivity mean investment outcomes depend on the natural gas cycle and the Appalachian basis.

Quick verdict table

DimensionConclusionConfidence
Business qualityCNX produces natural gas, NGLs, and oil from the Appalachian Basin, primarily the Marcellus and Utica shale formations, plus coalbed methane in Virginia. Its low-cost structure produced a fully burdened cash margin of $1.68 per Mcfe in Q2 2026, designed to generate cash even at moderate gas prices.Medium-high
MoatCNX benefits from low-cost Appalachian Basin reserves, a large undeveloped inventory, owned midstream assets, drilling expertise, and a differentiated New Tech methane abatement business. Commodity price-taking, a weak regional basis, and the absence of pricing power limit the moat.Medium
ManagementCEO Alan K. Shepard, in the role since January 1, 2026 after serving as president and CFO, leads a team focused on low-cost production, buybacks, and balance sheet discipline. In 2025 CNX repurchased 16.9 million shares for about $528 million, and the zero-dividend policy keeps all cash for buybacks, debt, and reinvestment.Medium-high
Financial trendFY2025 revenue was $2.24 billion with net income of $633 million and diluted EPS of $3.98, versus a $90 million net loss in FY2024. TTM results strengthened further with about $2.14 billion of revenue, $949 million of net income, and positive free cash flow near $526 million, helped by the Q1 2026 gas price spike.Medium-high
ValuationAt $35.80, the stock trades at about 5.7x trailing GAAP earnings, 11.5x forward earnings, 2.48x sales, 4.87x operating cash flow, and 1.10x book value. The cheap trailing multiple is flattered by one-off gas prices and unrealized derivative gains, so forward valuation is closer to fair.Medium
Technical trendThe July 31 close at $35.80 sat above the 50-day moving average of $33.65 but below the 200-day moving average of $36.75. Barchart rates CNX 56% Sell, improved from 72% Sell a month ago, with a Trend Seeker buy signal and RSI near 65.Medium
Risk levelRisk is high because natural gas prices, the US supply-demand balance, the Appalachian basis, LNG export timing, hedge settlements, a roughly $2.22 billion debt load, and a very low cash balance can each move the stock significantly.Medium-high
AI confidenceDescriptive confidence is medium-high because market data and SEC filings are available. Forecast confidence is lower because commodity prices, the hedge roll, and the gas cycle dominate the earnings trajectory.Medium-high data confidence
Investment certaintyLow to medium. Zero buy ratings among recent analysts, short interest near 10% of shares, and the zero-dividend policy reflect caution on the gas cycle. Certainty depends on natural gas prices and the company's ability to keep generating free cash flow and buybacks at lower gas prices.Low-medium

CNX AI stock forecast

CNX AI Stock Forecast Scenarios

The CNX Resources AI stock forecast uses three-year scenario ranges from the July 31, 2026 close of $35.80. It is a scenario tool, not a price promise. The ranges change if natural gas prices, the Appalachian basis, production, costs, hedge settlements, or the market multiple change significantly.

Bullish case

$42 to $48

More likely if natural gas prices hold above $4 on LNG export growth, AI data center power demand, and constrained supply, CNX converts environmental attribute and 45Z credit sales into cash, buybacks continue, and the market re-rates the stock above book value.

Base case

$33 to $40

More likely if NYMEX gas stays in the $2.90 to $3.60 range, CNX keeps free cash flow near its 2026 guidance of about $525 million, buybacks continue, and the stock trades between roughly 1.0x and 1.2x book value.

Bearish case

$24 to $31

More likely if gas prices fall below $2.50, the 2026 hedge roll generates realized losses near the projected $155 million, free cash flow weakens, and the stock trades below book value as it has in prior weak gas cycles.

CNX AI technical analysis

CNX AI Technical Analysis

CNX AI technical analysis uses the $35.80 July 31, 2026 close, StockAnalysis momentum data, and Barchart opinion data. The static page cannot fetch live chart data. Support, resistance, moving averages, momentum, volume, and volatility must be rechecked in a current chart before use.

LevelValueWhy it matters
Current price$35.80July 31, 2026 NYSE close per StockAnalysis and Barchart.
First support$34.42Barchart lists first support at $34.42 below the last price of $35.80.
Second support$33.05Barchart lists second support at $33.05.
Major support$32.34 to $27.72Third support is $32.34 per Barchart, and the 52-week low of $27.72 is the cycle reference.
First resistance$36.50Barchart lists first resistance at $36.50.
Second resistance$37.21Barchart lists second resistance at $37.21.
Upper resistance$38.58Third resistance is $38.58 per Barchart, near the July 2026 earnings pop high.
Moving averagesAbove 50-day, below 200-dayStockAnalysis reports the 50-day moving average at $33.65 and the 200-day at $36.75.
MomentumRSI 65.1, Barchart 56% SellRSI is 65.1 per StockAnalysis. Barchart rates CNX 56% Sell, improved from 72% Sell a month ago, with a Trend Seeker buy signal.
VolumeAverage near 1.7 to 2.0 million sharesStockAnalysis reports 20-day average volume of about 1.74 million shares and Google Finance reports about 2.03 million.
VolatilityBeta 0.58Beta is 0.58 per StockAnalysis and 0.59 per Barchart. E&P stocks can still gap sharply on gas price news.
InvalidationSustained close below $32.34A break below third support near $32.34, and especially below the 52-week low of $27.72, would invalidate the recovery thesis.

CNX AI trading strategy

CNX AI Trading Strategy Framework

The CNX AI trading strategy is a rules-based research framework for a commodity-cycle E&P stock. It is not personalized advice. Position size, loss limits, and a fresh review of live price, natural gas futures, the hedge book, and quarterly earnings should come before any action.

Trend-following setup

Wait for CNX to clear resistance near $36.50 to $38.58 with firm natural gas futures, volume confirmation, and evidence that buybacks and free cash flow continue.

Exit or reassess if the breakout fails, price falls back below $34.42, or natural gas futures roll over.

Mean-reversion setup

If CNX tests the $32.34 to $34 area, compare the price with the gas forward strip, the 2026 and 2027 hedge book, maintenance capex, and net debt before treating it as a value entry.

Do not average down without a preset maximum loss. The stock can trade below book value for extended periods in weak gas markets, and the cash balance is very low.

Fundamental monitor

Track Henry Hub futures, the Appalachian basis, CNX quarterly production, realized prices, cash margins, adjusted EBITDAX, maintenance capex, free cash flow, net debt, the hedge book, and 45Z and environmental attribute monetization.

Reduce confidence when gas prices decline below CNX all-in cash costs, when the hedge roll produces larger realized losses, or when management signals higher capital spending.

Investment research summary

Four-master Research Compression

Business essence

Customers pay CNX for natural gas that powers heating, power generation, industrial processes, and petrochemicals. The company converts Appalachian Basin reserves, low-cost Marcellus and Utica operations, owned midstream assets, and methane abatement and 45Z credit programs into commodity-cycle cash flow. CNX pays no dividend and returns cash through share buybacks.

Moat

The moat rests on low-cost Marcellus and Utica reserves, a large undeveloped inventory, owned midstream assets, drilling and completions expertise, and a differentiated New Tech methane abatement business. It is moderate because natural gas is a commodity and CNX has no pricing power over Henry Hub or the Appalachian basis.

Munger risk inversion

The thesis fails if natural gas prices stay low or fall further, the weak Appalachian basis persists, the 2026 hedge roll produces realized losses near the projected $155 million, free cash flow turns negative, environmental liabilities prove larger than expected, or the very low cash balance becomes a liquidity problem.

Management

CEO Alan K. Shepard, in the role since January 1, 2026 after serving as president and CFO, leads a team focused on low-cost production, buybacks, and balance sheet discipline. The decisive test is whether capital allocation can sustain returns through the gas cycle while the company carries about $2.2 billion of debt and roughly $6 million of cash.

Industry trend

Natural gas demand benefits from LNG export growth, AI data center power demand, coal-to-gas switching, and industrial reshoring. The counterforces are a US supply glut, a weak Appalachian basis, renewable displacement, methane regulation, and carbon policy. Q1 2026 NYMEX gas averaged $5.04 per MMBtu before settling back to $2.90 in Q2 2026.

Valuation and margin of safety

The $35.80 price equals about 5.7x trailing GAAP earnings, 11.5x forward earnings, and 1.1x book value. Trailing earnings include a Q1 gas price spike and unrealized derivative gains, so the margin of safety depends on the trajectory of gas prices and the hedge book. If gas stays range-bound, the multiple may be fair. If gas falls, the stock could trade below book value.

Source-backed data

CNX Data Table

Every metric below includes a source and last verification date.

MetricValueSourceLast verified
Current price and market capitalization$35.80 close on July 31, 2026; market cap near $5.30 billion based on 147.94 million sharesStockAnalysis CNX overview and statisticsAugust 2, 2026
Shares outstanding147.94 million shares as of July 15, 2026CNX Q2 2026 earnings release, 8-K Exhibit 99.1August 3, 2026
Q2 2026 results$618.48 million revenue, $202.94 million net income, $1.32 diluted EPS, and 151.5 Bcfe productionCNX Q2 2026 earnings release, 8-KAugust 3, 2026
FY2025 results$2.24 billion revenue, $633 million net income, and $3.98 diluted EPSCNX 2025 Form 10-K (SEC filing)August 3, 2026
TTM financial dataAbout $2.14 billion trailing revenue, $949 million trailing net income, and $6.31 trailing EPSStockAnalysis CNX statisticsAugust 2, 2026
Adjusted EBITDAX and net debt$1,280 million adjusted EBITDAX TTM and $2,215 million net debt as of June 30, 2026CNX Q2 2026 earnings release, 8-K Exhibit 99.1August 3, 2026
Valuation multiples5.67x trailing P/E, 11.46x forward P/E, 1.10x price/book, 2.48x price/sales, 4.87x price/operating cash flow, and 10.07x price/free cash flowStockAnalysis CNX statisticsAugust 2, 2026
Analyst consensusConsensus Hold across 12 analysts with an average 12-month price target of $37.82; 0 buy, 5 hold, and 2 sell among the 7 analysts rating in the last three monthsStockAnalysis and Google Finance analyst ratingsAugust 2, 2026
Technical data52-week range $27.72 to $43.62, RSI 65.1, 50-day moving average $33.65, 200-day moving average $36.75, beta 0.58, and short interest of 15.16 million sharesStockAnalysis statistics and Barchart CNX opinionAugust 2, 2026
Production, reserves, hedges, and guidanceFY2025 sales volumes of 629.0 Bcfe and proved developed reserves of 7.0 Tcfe as of December 31, 2025; 2026 guidance of 605 to 620 Bcfe, adjusted EBITDAX of $1,265 to $1,315 million, free cash flow near $525 million, and about 81% of natural gas hedgedCNX 2025 Form 10-K and Q2 2026 earnings releaseAugust 3, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

This page is an informational research tool, not investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell CNX. Forecasts are scenarios based on available data and assumptions, can be wrong, and should be checked against current filings, live market data, natural gas futures, and your own risk assessment. CNX Resources is a commodity-cycle stock with no dividend, about $2.2 billion of debt, and a very low cash balance, and past performance does not guarantee future results.