Canadian National Railway Co. vs Danaos Corporation — how do they compare? Canadian National Railway Co. trades at $126.33 (market cap $76.28B), while Danaos Corporation trades at $138.33 (market cap $2.46B). The key difference: Canadian National Railway Co. is far larger — about 31× Danaos Corporation's market cap, and Danaos Corporation pays the higher dividend (2.67%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNI | DAC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $76.28B | $2.46B |
Sector | Industrials | Technology |
52-Week High | $130.58 | $143.15 |
52-Week Low | $90.91 | $84.05 |
Enterprise Value | $92.31B | $2.44B |
Dividend Yield | 2.06% | 2.67% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
Danaos Corporation (DAC) trades at $137.35, down 0.7% on the day, but maintains strong technical and fundamental momentum. The stock shows a bullish technical signal with key support at $133 and resistance at $138. Fundamentally, DAC demonstrates exceptional profitability with a 51.26% net income margin and attractive valuation metrics including a P/E of 4.57 and P/B of 0.61. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations with EPS of $7.29 versus $6.80 expected, continuing a pattern of strong quarterly performance.
DAC presents a compelling value opportunity with deep discount to book value and consistent earnings outperformance. The company's record $4.6 billion contracted revenue backlog provides visibility, while quarterly dividends of $0.90 per share enhance shareholder returns. Primary risks include shipping industry cyclicality and capital expenditure requirements for fleet expansion. Analyst sentiment is evenly split between Buy and Hold ratings, reflecting the stock's value proposition balanced against sector dynamics.
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 →Danaos is a leading international owner of containerships, providing seaborne transportation services globally. It charters its fleet of vessels to major shipping lines across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
Read more on DAC →