Canadian National Railway Co. vs Illinois Tool Works Inc. — how do they compare? Canadian National Railway Co. trades at $126.3 (market cap $76.48B), while Illinois Tool Works Inc. trades at $292.71 (market cap $83.31B). The key difference: Canadian National Railway Co. and Illinois Tool Works Inc. are close in size by market cap, and Illinois Tool Works Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.35%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNI | ITW | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $76.48B | $83.31B |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $130.58 | $299.60 |
52-Week Low | $90.91 | $241.07 |
Enterprise Value | $92.52B | $92.16B |
Dividend Yield | 2.06% | 2.35% |
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.
ITW trades at $292.54, down 0.67% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong fundamentals including a 19.39% net income margin and consistent earnings beats. Recent news highlights a 7% dividend increase and a $6 billion share repurchase program, reflecting management confidence. The stock is near key support at $290 with resistance at $300.
Outlook is positive due to robust profitability and shareholder returns, but risks include high valuation multiples and debt levels. Analyst consensus is mixed with a $314.25 price target, suggesting moderate upside potential amid cautious sentiment from some institutional sellers.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Illinois Tool Works is a diversified global manufacturer that produces specialized industrial equipment, consumables, and related services. The firm operates 87 global divisions through seven distinct operating segments: automotive OEM, construction products, food equipment, specialty products, test/measurement and electronics, polymers and fluids, and welding. About half of its revenue comes from its operations in North America, with the remainder originating from international markets. ITW takes a bottom-up and decentralized approach to portfolio management, with the exception that each segment must apply its 80/20 operating process modeled on the Pareto principle.
Read more on ITW →