Canadian National Railway Co. vs Packaging Corporation of America — how do they compare? Canadian National Railway Co. trades at $126.3 (market cap $75.59B), while Packaging Corporation of America trades at $257.2 (market cap $22.70B). The key difference: Canadian National Railway Co. is far larger — about 3.3× Packaging Corporation of America's market cap, and Packaging Corporation of America pays the higher dividend (2.36%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNI | PKG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $75.59B | $22.70B |
Sector | Industrials | Technology |
52-Week High | $130.58 | $256.04 |
52-Week Low | $90.91 | $191.68 |
Enterprise Value | $91.60B | $26.51B |
Dividend Yield | 2.08% | 2.36% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Canadian National Railway (CNI) trades at $126.60, up 0.16% with neutral technical signals. The company reported strong Q2 2026 results with EPS of $1.50 beating estimates by 7.9% and raised full-year guidance. Fundamentals show solid profitability with 26.92% net margin and 22.02% ROE, though valuation appears elevated at 22.77 P/E. Recent news highlights record grain movements and over 300 customer growth projects across CN's network.
CNI presents a mixed outlook with strong operational execution offset by valuation concerns. The 20% upside to consensus price target of $152.38 offers potential, but debt levels rising to 36.61% of assets and competitive pressures warrant caution. Earnings consistency remains key with Q3 results pending.
Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) trades at $256.04, up 1.3% on the day, with a bullish technical trend supported by moving averages and strong support at $252. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $2.35, beating estimates, driven by record corrugated shipments and contributions from the Greif acquisition, though net income margins face pressure from rising costs. A $1.50 dividend for H1-2026 reflects management's confidence, with a consensus price target of $269.33 suggesting modest upside.
Outlook: PKG benefits from robust demand and strategic acquisitions, but cost headwinds and a high P/E of 33.08 pose valuation risks. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 34.6% buy ratings, indicating cautious optimism amid margin compression and economic uncertainties. Key risks include freight and input cost inflation, competitive pricing pressure, and execution of integration synergies.
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 →Packaging Corporation of America is a leading producer of containerboard and corrugated packaging products in North America. The company also produces white papers, which include printing and writing papers. PKG operates as an integrated manufacturer, with a strong focus on high-quality and sustainable packaging solutions for e-commerce, food and beverage, and other industrial and consumer markets.
Read more on PKG →