Caterpillar Inc vs Canadian National Railway Co. — how do they compare? Caterpillar Inc trades at $866 (market cap $387.68B), while Canadian National Railway Co. trades at $126.3 (market cap $76.28B). The key difference: Caterpillar Inc is far larger — about 5.1× Canadian National Railway Co.'s market cap, and Canadian National Railway Co. pays the higher dividend (2.06%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CAT | CNI | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $387.68B | $76.28B |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $1.06K | $130.58 |
52-Week Low | $407.79 | $90.91 |
Enterprise Value | $426.11B | $92.31B |
Dividend Yield | 0.77% | 2.06% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Caterpillar (CAT) trades at $837.58, down 0.55% on the day, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamental performance. Recent quarters have consistently beaten EPS estimates, with Q2 2026 EPS of $8.17 surpassing the $6.22 expectation. Revenue growth is supported by AI data center demand, contributing to a robust $67.59B in 2025 revenue. The stock is near key support at $831, with resistance at $850.
Outlook remains positive due to strong earnings momentum and AI-driven infrastructure demand, though elevated valuation ratios (P/E of 36.32) pose a risk. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $1,010 price target, but investors should monitor macroeconomic pressures and competitive threats. The dividend history and cash flow stability add defensive appeal.
Canadian National Railway (CNI) trades at $125.14, down 1.15% with a bearish technical signal. The company reported strong Q2 2026 results with EPS of $1.50 beating estimates by 7.9% and raised full-year guidance, driven by record grain volumes and improved operational efficiency. Fundamentals show solid profitability with 26.92% net margin and 22.02% ROE, though valuation multiples appear elevated with P/E of 22.62. Recent news highlights continued infrastructure investment and customer growth projects exceeding $2 billion in 2025.
CNI presents a mixed outlook with strong operational execution offset by valuation concerns. The 21.8% upside to consensus price target of $152.38 offers potential, but rising debt levels and competitive pressures pose risks. Analyst sentiment is cautious with 60.79% hold ratings, suggesting waiting for clearer evidence of sustained earnings growth before committing new capital.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Caterpillar Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets construction, mining, and forestry machinery. The Company also manufactures engines and other related parts for its equipment, and offers financing and insurance. Caterpillar distributes its products through a worldwide organization of dealers.
Read more on CAT →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 →