Cenovus Energy (CVE) stock is soaring 5.06% in pre-market trading on Thursday following the release of its better-than-expected first-quarter earnings report. The Canadian integrated oil and gas company has managed to outperform analyst estimates, despite facing challenges in the energy sector.

Cenovus reported quarterly adjusted earnings of CA$0.47 per share for the quarter ended March 31, significantly beating the analyst consensus estimate of CA$0.40 per share. While this represents a decrease from CA$0.62 per share in the same quarter last year, it showcases the company's resilience in a challenging market. Revenue for the quarter came in at CA$13.30 billion, slightly above the analyst expectations of CA$13.26 billion, despite a 0.7% year-over-year decline.

The strong quarterly performance comes as a positive surprise for investors, especially considering that Cenovus Energy's shares had fallen by 15.5% this quarter and lost 22.4% year-to-date prior to this earnings release. The company's ability to exceed expectations in both earnings and revenue has reignited investor confidence, potentially marking a turning point for the stock. As the energy sector continues to navigate global market dynamics, Cenovus's robust performance positions it well for future growth.