Canadian National Railway Co. vs ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd — how do they compare? Canadian National Railway Co. trades at $126.3 (market cap $76.28B), while ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd trades at $25.75 (market cap $2.96B). The key difference: Canadian National Railway Co. is far larger — about 25.8× ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd's market cap, and ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd pays the higher dividend (20.16%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNI | ZIM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $76.28B | $2.96B |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $130.58 | $29.27 |
52-Week Low | $90.91 | $12.44 |
Enterprise Value | $92.31B | $6.81B |
Dividend Yield | 2.06% | 20.16% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
CNI trades at $126.29, up 0.91% on the day, with a neutral technical signal and bullish moving averages. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings, beating estimates with EPS of $1.50, and raised its full-year guidance, driven by record grain volumes and operational efficiency. Financials show solid profitability with a net income margin of 26.92% and ROE of 22.02%, though valuation ratios like P/E of 22.62 appear elevated.
The outlook is positive due to robust operational performance and raised guidance, but risks include stretched valuation, economic sensitivity, and competitive pressures. Analyst consensus is a Buy with a $152.38 price target, implying potential upside, though recent downgrades highlight valuation concerns.
ZIM trades at $25.27, up 0.24% on the day, amid a bearish technical signal and mixed earnings history. The company reported a net income of $479.20 million in 2025, but profitability is expected to decline sharply in 2026. Recent news highlights uncertainty around a potential merger with Hapag-Lloyd and pressure from lower freight rates.
The outlook is cautious, with analysts evenly split between hold and sell ratings and a consensus price target of $16.75, well below the current price. Key risks include regulatory hurdles for the merger, volatile shipping rates, and declining earnings. Upside depends on successful deal execution or improved operational performance.
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 →ZIM is a global container liner shipping company that employs a 'global-niche' strategy, focusing on specific trade lanes where it holds a competitive advantage. Unlike larger, asset-heavy competitors, ZIM operates an agile, charter-intensive fleet, allowing it to rapidly adjust capacity to market demand while prioritizing digitalization and specialized cargo like refrigerated (reefer) goods.
Read more on ZIM →