Canadian National Railway Co. vs J B Hunt Transport Services Inc — how do they compare? Canadian National Railway Co. trades at $125.37 (market cap $75.02B), while J B Hunt Transport Services Inc trades at $281 (market cap $26.49B). The key difference: Canadian National Railway Co. is far larger — about 2.8× J B Hunt Transport Services Inc's market cap, and Canadian National Railway Co. pays the higher dividend (2.07%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNI | JBHT | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $75.02B | $26.49B |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $125.31 | $290.07 |
52-Week Low | $90.91 | $130.65 |
Enterprise Value | $90.48B | $27.78B |
Dividend Yield | 2.07% | 0.64% |
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.
JB Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) trades at $283.00, up 1.09% with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The company has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters, with Q2 2026 results expected soon. Valuation metrics show a P/E of 43.95 and P/S of 2.25, while profitability remains solid with 5.13% net margin and 16.68% ROE. Analyst consensus is strongly positive with 26 buy ratings and a $280.59 price target.
JBHT demonstrates consistent operational performance with stable cash flow generation, though revenue has declined from 2022 peaks. The stock faces valuation concerns with elevated P/E ratios, while freight market cyclicality presents ongoing business risks. Earnings momentum and strong analyst support provide upside potential, but investors should monitor Q2 earnings results for confirmation of growth trajectory.
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 →J.B. Hunt Transport Services ranks among the top surface transportation companies in North America by revenue. Its primary operating segments are intermodal delivery, which uses the Class I rail carriers for the underlying line-haul movement of its owned containers (45% of sales in 2021).
Read more on JBHT →