CF Industries Holdings, Inc. vs Canadian National Railway Co. — how do they compare? CF Industries Holdings, Inc. trades at $118.66 (market cap $18.31B), while Canadian National Railway Co. trades at $125.37 (market cap $75.02B). The key difference: Canadian National Railway Co. is far larger — about 4.1× CF Industries Holdings, Inc.'s market cap, and Canadian National Railway Co. pays the higher dividend (2.07%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CF | CNI | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.31B | $75.02B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $137.55 | $125.31 |
52-Week Low | $76.08 | $90.91 |
Enterprise Value | $19.89B | $90.48B |
Dividend Yield | 2.01% | 2.07% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
CF Industries stock trades at $120.92, up 3.42% today, with a bullish technical outlook and strong fundamentals. Recent earnings beats, a 20% dividend hike announced July 8, 2026, and robust profitability metrics like a 23.73% net margin support investor confidence. The stock is near consensus price targets, with moving averages signaling upward momentum.
The outlook is positive, driven by firm nitrogen demand and shareholder returns, but risks include input cost pressures and cyclical industry headwinds. Upside potential exists if earnings continue to exceed expectations, though overbought RSI levels suggest near-term consolidation may occur.
Canadian National Railway (CNI) trades at $125.31, up 0.73% with strong technical momentum and bullish moving average signals. The company demonstrates solid fundamentals with 27.23% net income margin and 21.85% ROE, though valuation multiples appear elevated with P/E of 23.44. Recent record grain and propane shipments highlight operational strength, while Q2 2026 earnings due July 24 will be critical for near-term direction.
CNI presents a mixed outlook with strong operational execution offset by premium valuation. The 35% upside to consensus target of $143.25 offers potential, but debt-to-asset ratio rising to 36.61% and competitive pressures warrant caution. Dividend sustainability appears solid with recent $0.92 payout, making it attractive for income investors seeking railroad exposure.
Trailing returns across standard periods
CF Industries is a leading producer and distributor of nitrogen fertilizers. The company operates seven nitrogen facilities in North America and holds joint venture interests in further production capacity in the United Kingdom and Trinidad and Tobago. CF makes nitrogen primarily using low-cost U.S. natural gas as its feedstock, making CF one of the lowest-cost nitrogen producers globally.
Read more on CF →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 →