ACM vs. CNI: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Updated on July 7, 2025

Here’s a clear look at ACM and CNI, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Overview

CNI’s market capitalization of 66.80 billion USD is significantly greater than ACM’s 15.31 billion USD, highlighting its more substantial market valuation.

With betas of 0.97 for ACM and 0.90 for CNI, both stocks show similar sensitivity to overall market movements.

Symbol	ACM	CNI
Company Name	Aecom	Canadian National Railway Company
Country	US	CA
Sector	Industrials	Industrials
Industry	Engineering & Construction	Railroads
CEO	W. Troy Rudd	Tracy A. Robinson
Price	115.75 USD	106.46 USD
Market Cap	15.31 billion USD	66.80 billion USD
Beta	0.97	0.90
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
IPO Date	May 10, 2007	November 26, 1996
ADR	No	No

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of ACM and CNI by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period.

Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

ACM vs. CNI: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Profitability

Return on Equity

ACM

27.52%

Engineering & Construction Industry

Max: 39.77%
Q3: 28.08%
Median: 13.64%
Q1: 7.13%
Min: -14.48%

ACM’s Return on Equity of 27.52% is on par with the norm for the Engineering & Construction industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

CNI

22.11%

Railroads Industry

Max: 40.80%
Q3: 24.36%
Median: 18.32%
Q1: 11.84%
Min: 8.37%

CNI’s Return on Equity of 22.11% is on par with the norm for the Railroads industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

ACM vs. CNI: A comparison of their ROE against their respective Engineering & Construction and Railroads industry benchmarks.

Return on Invested Capital

ACM

6.55%

Engineering & Construction Industry

Max: 22.01%
Q3: 12.65%
Median: 8.09%
Q1: 4.79%
Min: -2.53%

ACM’s Return on Invested Capital of 6.55% is in line with the norm for the Engineering & Construction industry, reflecting a standard level of efficiency in generating profits from its capital base.

CNI

8.85%

Railroads Industry

Max: 11.47%
Q3: 9.66%
Median: 9.08%
Q1: 7.36%
Min: 4.32%

CNI’s Return on Invested Capital of 8.85% is in line with the norm for the Railroads industry, reflecting a standard level of efficiency in generating profits from its capital base.

ACM vs. CNI: A comparison of their ROIC against their respective Engineering & Construction and Railroads industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin

ACM

3.85%

Engineering & Construction Industry

Max: 11.23%
Q3: 6.47%
Median: 3.96%
Q1: 2.79%
Min: -2.45%

ACM’s Net Profit Margin of 3.85% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Engineering & Construction industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.

CNI

26.20%

Railroads Industry

Max: 27.77%
Q3: 26.50%
Median: 24.33%
Q1: 9.34%
Min: 4.79%

CNI’s Net Profit Margin of 26.20% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Railroads industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.

ACM vs. CNI: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin against their respective Engineering & Construction and Railroads industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin

ACM

5.98%

Engineering & Construction Industry

Max: 13.74%
Q3: 8.50%
Median: 6.20%
Q1: 4.58%
Min: 0.34%

ACM’s Operating Profit Margin of 5.98% is around the midpoint for the Engineering & Construction industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

CNI

37.15%

Railroads Industry

Max: 41.08%
Q3: 37.86%
Median: 35.40%
Q1: 15.99%
Min: 10.85%

CNI’s Operating Profit Margin of 37.15% is around the midpoint for the Railroads industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

ACM vs. CNI: A comparison of their Operating Margin against their respective Engineering & Construction and Railroads industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	ACM	CNI
Return on Equity (TTM)	27.52%	22.11%
Return on Assets (TTM)	5.24%	7.85%
Return on Invested Capital (TTM)	6.55%	8.85%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	3.85%	26.20%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	5.98%	37.15%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	7.09%	41.49%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio

ACM

Engineering & Construction Industry

Max: 2.02
Q3: 1.66
Median: 1.38
Q1: 1.24
Min: 0.94

Current Ratio data for ACM is currently unavailable.

CNI

0.62

Railroads Industry

Max: 1.97
Q3: 1.41
Median: 0.85
Q1: 0.77
Min: 0.62

CNI’s Current Ratio of 0.62 falls into the lower quartile for the Railroads industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.

ACM vs. CNI: A comparison of their Current Ratio against their respective Engineering & Construction and Railroads industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio

ACM

1.32

Engineering & Construction Industry

Max: 1.76
Q3: 0.91
Median: 0.67
Q1: 0.28
Min: 0.01

ACM’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Engineering & Construction industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.32. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.

CNI

0.98

Railroads Industry

Max: 2.11
Q3: 1.44
Median: 1.19
Q1: 0.72
Min: 0.39

CNI’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.98 is typical for the Railroads industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.

ACM vs. CNI: A comparison of their D/E Ratio against their respective Engineering & Construction and Railroads industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio

ACM

5.28

Engineering & Construction Industry

Max: 20.20
Q3: 11.91
Median: 6.46
Q1: 3.18
Min: -2.69

ACM’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 5.28 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Engineering & Construction industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

CNI

6.99

Railroads Industry

Max: 8.45
Q3: 7.16
Median: 6.40
Q1: 5.53
Min: 4.30

CNI’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 6.99 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Railroads industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

ACM vs. CNI: A comparison of their Interest Coverage against their respective Engineering & Construction and Railroads industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	ACM	CNI
Current Ratio (TTM)	--	0.62
Quick Ratio (TTM)	--	0.43
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM)	1.32	0.98
Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM)	0.26	0.37
Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM)	1.23	2.37
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	5.28	6.99

Growth

The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for ACM and CNI. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.

Revenue Growth

ACM vs. CNI: A comparison of their annual year-over-year Revenue Growth.

Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth

ACM vs. CNI: A comparison of their annual year-over-year Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth.

Free Cash Flow Growth

ACM vs. CNI: A comparison of their annual year-over-year Free Cash Flow Growth.

Dividend

Dividend Yield

ACM

0.86%

Engineering & Construction Industry

Max: 1.31%
Q3: 0.40%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

With a Dividend Yield of 0.86%, ACM offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Engineering & Construction industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.

CNI

2.40%

Railroads Industry

Max: 4.30%
Q3: 2.64%
Median: 2.21%
Q1: 1.33%
Min: 0.43%

CNI’s Dividend Yield of 2.40% is consistent with its peers in the Railroads industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

ACM vs. CNI: A comparison of their Dividend Yield against their respective Engineering & Construction and Railroads industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio

ACM

20.16%

Engineering & Construction Industry

Max: 32.30%
Q3: 7.09%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

ACM’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 20.16% is in the upper quartile for the Engineering & Construction industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.

CNI

47.83%

Railroads Industry

Max: 69.30%
Q3: 47.83%
Median: 32.93%
Q1: 18.85%
Min: 13.29%

CNI’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 47.83% is within the typical range for the Railroads industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

ACM vs. CNI: A comparison of their Payout Ratio against their respective Engineering & Construction and Railroads industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	ACM	CNI
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.86%	2.40%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	20.16%	47.83%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio

ACM

24.84

Engineering & Construction Industry

Max: 95.41
Q3: 56.70
Median: 32.28
Q1: 22.94
Min: 4.72

ACM’s P/E Ratio of 24.84 is within the middle range for the Engineering & Construction industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

CNI

20.08

Railroads Industry

Max: 26.01
Q3: 22.00
Median: 19.48
Q1: 17.09
Min: 16.09

CNI’s P/E Ratio of 20.08 is within the middle range for the Railroads industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

ACM vs. CNI: A comparison of their P/E Ratio against their respective Engineering & Construction and Railroads industry benchmarks.

Forward P/E to Growth Ratio

ACM

2.51

Engineering & Construction Industry

Max: 4.99
Q3: 3.64
Median: 2.51
Q1: 1.64
Min: 0.03

The Forward PEG Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric in the Engineering & Construction industry.

CNI

1.83

Railroads Industry

Max: 1.85
Q3: 1.84
Median: 1.79
Q1: 1.59
Min: 1.52

The Forward PEG Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric in the Railroads industry.

ACM vs. CNI: A comparison of their Forward PEG Ratio against their respective Engineering & Construction and Railroads industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio

ACM

0.95

Engineering & Construction Industry

Max: 3.34
Q3: 2.05
Median: 1.50
Q1: 0.83
Min: 0.44

ACM’s P/S Ratio of 0.95 aligns with the market consensus for the Engineering & Construction industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

CNI

5.26

Railroads Industry

Max: 6.74
Q3: 5.30
Median: 4.55
Q1: 2.73
Min: 0.42

CNI’s P/S Ratio of 5.26 aligns with the market consensus for the Railroads industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

ACM vs. CNI: A comparison of their P/S Ratio against their respective Engineering & Construction and Railroads industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio

ACM

6.71

Engineering & Construction Industry

Max: 10.70
Q3: 7.33
Median: 4.69
Q1: 2.53
Min: 0.79

ACM’s P/B Ratio of 6.71 is within the conventional range for the Engineering & Construction industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.

CNI

4.18

Railroads Industry

Max: 5.11
Q3: 4.36
Median: 3.70
Q1: 1.98
Min: 1.00

CNI’s P/B Ratio of 4.18 is within the conventional range for the Railroads industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.

ACM vs. CNI: A comparison of their P/B Ratio against their respective Engineering & Construction and Railroads industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	ACM	CNI
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM)	24.84	20.08
Forward PEG Ratio (TTM)	2.51	1.83
Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM)	0.95	5.26
Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM)	6.71	4.18
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM)	18.31	27.79
EV-to-EBITDA (TTM)	14.51	12.64
EV-to-Sales (TTM)	1.04	6.47