Canadian National Railway Co. vs Northrop Grumman Corporation — how do they compare? Canadian National Railway Co. trades at $125.37 (market cap $75.02B), while Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $530.49 (market cap $75.09B). The key difference: Canadian National Railway Co. and Northrop Grumman Corporation are close in size by market cap, and Canadian National Railway Co. pays the higher dividend (2.07%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNI | NOC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $75.02B | $75.09B |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $125.31 | $768.02 |
52-Week Low | $90.91 | $496.02 |
Enterprise Value | $90.48B | $89.31B |
Dividend Yield | 2.07% | 1.78% |
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.
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $541.82, up 0.41% with neutral technical signals. The company shows strong fundamentals with consistent earnings beats, a 10.8% net income margin, and a $96 billion backlog supporting growth. Recent news highlights expansion in defense and aerospace sectors, driven by increased government spending and new contracts.
Outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $655, indicating 21% upside. Risks include political budget shifts and execution challenges. Analyst sentiment is bullish (57% buy ratings), but investors should monitor Q2 2026 earnings due July 21 for confirmation of growth trends.
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 →Northrop Grumman is a defense contractor that is diversified across short-cycle and long-cycle businesses. The firm's segments include aeronautics, mission systems, defense services, and space systems. The company's aerospace segment creates the fuselage for the massive F-35 program and produces various piloted and autonomous flight systems. Mission systems creates a variety of sensors and processors for defense hardware. The defense systems segment is a long-range missile manufacturer. Finally, the company's space systems segment produces various space structures, sensors, and satellites.
Read more on NOC →