Canadian National Railway Co. vs Southwest Airlines Co — how do they compare? Canadian National Railway Co. trades at $126.3 (market cap $76.28B), while Southwest Airlines Co trades at $45.21 (market cap $22.27B). The key difference: Canadian National Railway Co. is far larger — about 3.4× Southwest Airlines Co's market cap, and Canadian National Railway Co. pays the higher dividend (2.06%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNI | LUV | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $76.28B | $22.27B |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $130.58 | $54.80 |
52-Week Low | $90.91 | $29.67 |
Enterprise Value | $92.31B | $25.37B |
Dividend Yield | 2.06% | 1.58% |
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.
Southwest Airlines (LUV) trades at $44.9, down 4.57% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages. The company reported mixed quarterly earnings, beating in Q2 2026 but missing in Q1 2026, while revenue growth is projected to rise to $30.1B in 2026. Recent news highlights board appointments and initiatives to attract business travelers, amid a volatile fuel cost environment.
LUV presents a cautious opportunity with a consensus price target of $53.86 implying upside, supported by improving cash flow and dividend payments. Risks include fuel price volatility, execution on new business offerings, and competitive pressures, requiring careful monitoring of earnings consistency and cost management.
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 →Southwest Airlines is the largest domestic carrier in the United States, as measured by the number of originating passengers boarded. Southwest operates over 700 aircraft in an all-Boeing 737 fleet. Despite expanding into longer routes and business travel, the airline still specializes in short-haul leisure flights, using a point-to-point network. Southwest operates a low-cost carrier business model.
Read more on LUV →