Bank of Nova Scotia vs Canadian National Railway Co. — how do they compare? Bank of Nova Scotia trades at $89.03 (market cap $108.32B), while Canadian National Railway Co. trades at $126.3 (market cap $76.28B). The key difference: Bank of Nova Scotia is the larger of the two by market cap, and Bank of Nova Scotia pays the higher dividend (3.64%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BNS | CNI | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $108.32B | $76.28B |
Sector | Financials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $90.33 | $130.58 |
52-Week Low | $56.61 | $90.91 |
Dividend Yield | 3.64% | 2.06% |
Enterprise Value | — | $92.31B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) trades at $90.34, up 2.01% with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages. The bank has delivered three consecutive earnings beats, with Q2 2026 EPS expected at $1.53. Recent acquisition of MapleMark Bank and dividend increase to $1.14 demonstrate strategic growth initiatives. Valuation metrics show P/E of 17.1 and P/B of 1.96, while maintaining strong profitability with 24.86% net income margin.
BNS presents a compelling investment case with strong fundamentals and analyst support (52.63% buy ratings), though revenue growth has been modest and interest expenses remain elevated. The stock faces risks from economic uncertainty and credit quality concerns, but dividend stability and improving ROE to 11.87% provide downside protection. Upside potential exists if the bank maintains earnings momentum.
CNI trades at $126.29, up 0.91% on the day, with a neutral technical signal and bullish moving averages. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings, beating estimates with EPS of $1.50, and raised its full-year guidance, driven by record grain volumes and operational efficiency. Financials show solid profitability with a net income margin of 26.92% and ROE of 22.02%, though valuation ratios like P/E of 22.62 appear elevated.
The outlook is positive due to robust operational performance and raised guidance, but risks include stretched valuation, economic sensitivity, and competitive pressures. Analyst consensus is a Buy with a $152.38 price target, implying potential upside, though recent downgrades highlight valuation concerns.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Bank of Nova Scotia is a global financial services provider. The bank has five business segments: Canadian banking, international banking, global wealth management, global banking and markets, and other. It offers a range of advice, products, and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. The bank's international operations span numerous countries and are more concentrated in Central and South America.
Read more on BNS →Canadian National's railway spans Canada from coast to coast and extends through Chicago to the Gulf of Mexico. In 2019, CN delivered almost 6 million carloads over its 19,600 miles of track. CN generated roughly CAD 14 billion in total revenue by hauling intermodal containers (25% of consolidated revenue), petroleum and chemicals (21%), grain and fertilizers (16%), forest products (12%), metals and mining (11%), automotive shipments (6%), and coal (4%). Other items constitute the remaining revenue.
Read more on CNI →