Canadian National Railway Co. vs iShares 1 3 Year Treasury Bond ETF — how do they compare? Canadian National Railway Co. trades at $123.63 (market cap $75.02B), while iShares 1 3 Year Treasury Bond ETF trades at $81.98. The key difference: Canadian National Railway Co. pays a 2.07% dividend while iShares 1 3 Year Treasury Bond ETF pays none, and Canadian National Railway Co. is trading nearer its 52-week high, iShares 1 3 Year Treasury Bond ETF nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNI | SHY | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $75.02B | — |
Sector | Industrials | Fixed Income |
52-Week High | $125.31 | $83.18 |
52-Week Low | $90.91 | $81.79 |
Enterprise Value | $90.48B | — |
Dividend Yield | 2.07% | — |
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.
SHY, a US Treasury bond ETF, trades at $81.79, down 0.11% with a bearish technical signal from moving averages. The fund maintains consistent dividend distributions of $0.24 per share scheduled through mid-2026. Current market sentiment reflects significant investor interest in cash and Treasury ETFs as bond yields rise, with nearly $100 billion flowing into cash ETFs according to recent reports.
The outlook for SHY remains tied to Federal Reserve policy decisions amid inflation concerns. While the ETF provides stable income through Treasury exposure, rising rate expectations could pressure short-term bond prices. Investors seeking yield may find competition from higher-yielding alternatives as Treasury yields approach 4% levels.
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 →SHY provides exposure to U.S. Treasury bonds with remaining maturities between one and three years. It is a low-risk, highly liquid ETF designed for capital preservation and short-term income, featuring 2026 top holdings across various Treasury Notes.
Read more on SHY →