Canadian National Railway Co. vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? Canadian National Railway Co. trades at $126.29 (market cap $76.28B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $133.76 (market cap $321.77B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 4.2× Canadian National Railway Co.'s market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.61%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNI | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $76.28B | $321.77B |
Sector | Industrials | Health |
52-Week High | $130.58 | $131.84 |
52-Week Low | $90.91 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $92.31B | $368.53B |
Dividend Yield | 2.06% | 2.61% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
CNI trades at $126.32, up 0.94% today, with a neutral technical signal and bullish moving average trend. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings, beating EPS estimates with $1.50 versus $1.39 expected, and raised full-year guidance. Key financials show a P/E of 22.62, net income margin of 26.92%, and ROE of 22.02%, supported by record grain movements in the 2025-26 crop year.
Outlook is positive due to operational excellence and volume growth, but valuation appears stretched with a consensus price target of $152.38. Risks include competitive pressures and macroeconomic volatility, while institutional sentiment leans neutral with 60.79% hold ratings.
MRK trades at $133.6, up 2.06% today, near its 52-week high. The stock shows a bullish technical trend with strong moving average support. Recent earnings have consistently beaten estimates, with Q3 2026 expected at $2.27 EPS. The company's acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals aims to bolster its oncology pipeline, while revenue growth remains steady at $65.01B in 2025.
MRK presents a positive outlook with a consensus price target of $140.36, indicating potential upside. Strong institutional buying and a 67.57% buy rating from analysts support bullish sentiment. Risks include rising debt-to-asset ratios and competitive pressures in the pharma sector. The dividend yield of $0.85 per half-year adds income appeal for long-term investors.
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 →Merck makes pharmaceutical products to treat several conditions in a number of therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and infections. Within cancer, the firm's immuno-oncology platform is growing as a major contributor to overall sales. The company also has a substantial vaccine business, with treatments to prevent hepatitis B and pediatric diseases as well as HPV and shingles. Additionally, Merck sells animal health-related drugs. From a geographical perspective, just under half of the firm's sales are generated in the United States.
Read more on MRK →