Canadian National Railway Co. vs Illumina, Inc. — how do they compare? Canadian National Railway Co. trades at $126.3 (market cap $76.28B), while Illumina, Inc. trades at $191.5 (market cap $29.12B). The key difference: Canadian National Railway Co. is far larger — about 2.6× Illumina, Inc.'s market cap, and Canadian National Railway Co. pays a 2.06% dividend while Illumina, Inc. pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNI | ILMN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $76.28B | $29.12B |
Sector | Industrials | Health |
52-Week High | $130.58 | $205.10 |
52-Week Low | $90.91 | $91.00 |
Enterprise Value | $92.31B | $30.48B |
Dividend Yield | 2.06% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
Illumina (ILMN) trades at $192.57, up 0.4% on the day, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamental performance. The stock has consistently beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, with Q2 2026 EPS of $1.31 exceeding expectations. Revenue remains stable around $4.3B, and profitability has improved significantly, with a net income margin of 19.57% in 2025. The company maintains robust cash flow from operations of $1.08B in 2025.
The outlook is mixed; strong fundamentals and analyst buy ratings support upside to the $201.58 consensus target, but technical weakness and high valuation ratios pose near-term risks. Key opportunities include sustained earnings beats and AI initiatives, while risks involve competitive pressures and execution challenges in a volatile market.
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 →Illumina provides tools and services to analyze genetic material with life science and clinical lab applications. The company generates over 90% of its revenue from sequencing instruments, consumables, and services. Illumina's high-throughput technology enables whole genome sequencing in humans and other large organisms. Its lower throughput tools enable applications that require smaller data outputs, such as viral and cancer tumor screening. Illumina also sells microarrays (less than 10% of sales) that enable lower-cost, focused genetic screening with primarily consumer and agricultural applications.
Read more on ILMN →