The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that RBC's Greg Pardy has reaffirmed his "outperform" ranking for Canadian Natural Resources. The Globe's David Leeder writes that Mr. Pardy boosted his share target by a loonie to $63. Analysts on average target the shares at $55.82. Mr. Pardy says CNRL remains his favourite senior producer in Canada. CNRL continues to be on RBC's "Global Energy Best Ideas" list. Mr. Pardy says in a note: "Our bullish stance toward CNRL reflects its strong leadership, shareholder alignment, abundant free cash flow generation, best-in-class operating performance and abundant shareholder returns. ... CNRL's diversified portfolio affords a high degree of flexibility to shift capital toward its highest return drilling initiatives. Amid soft natural gas prices, CNRL is now targeting a total of 74 net natural gas wells in 2024, with an ongoing emphasis on multi-lateral heavy oil wells in the Clearwater and Mannville formations. In 2024, CNRL expects to consume about 38 per cent of its budgeted natural gas production within its oil sands operations, with about 25 per cent to be sold at AECO/Station 2 pricing, and the remaining 37-per-cent balance targeted for export into other markets."