Canadian National Railway Co. vs CSX Corporation — how do they compare? Canadian National Railway Co. trades at $125.37 (market cap $75.02B), while CSX Corporation trades at $49.93 (market cap $92.24B). The key difference: CSX Corporation is the larger of the two by market cap, and Canadian National Railway Co. pays the higher dividend (2.07%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNI | CSX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $75.02B | $92.24B |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $125.31 | $49.92 |
52-Week Low | $90.91 | $32.05 |
Enterprise Value | $90.48B | $110.47B |
Dividend Yield | 2.07% | 1.13% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
CSX trades at $49.64, up 0.47% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but overbought RSI readings. The company reported mixed recent earnings, beating in Q1 2026 but missing in Q4 2025, with Q2 2026 results expected soon. Revenue has trended down from $14.9B in 2022 to $14.1B in 2025, though net margins remain above 20%. Strong cash flow from operations supports dividends, including a recent $0.14 payout.
Outlook is cautiously optimistic given analyst consensus favoring Buy ratings (56.52%) and a price target near $48.87. Risks include declining revenue, high debt levels, and valuation multiples above industry norms. Earnings growth and operational efficiency gains are key catalysts for upside, but macroeconomic pressures on freight demand pose headwinds.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →Operating in the Eastern United States, Class I railroad CSX generated revenue near $12.5 billion in 2021. On its more than 21,000 miles of track, CSX hauls shipments of coal (13% of consolidated revenue), chemicals (22%), intermodal containers (16%), automotive cargo (9%), and a diverse mix of other bulk and industrial merchandise.
Read more on CSX →