CHRW vs. CNI: C.H. Robinson Worldwide vs. Canadian National Railway Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) and Canadian National Railway (CNI) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) and Canadian National Railway (CNI) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but CHRW is classified in Air Freight & Logistics while CNI is classified in Ground Transportation.

Company profile comparison for C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) and Canadian National Railway (CNI)
Profile Item	CHRW	CNI
Name	C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc.	Canadian National Railway Co.
Country/Region	United States	Canada
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Transportation	Transportation
GICS Industry	Air Freight & Logistics	Ground Transportation
GICS Sub-Industry	Air Freight & Logistics	Rail Transportation
Market Capitalization	14.53 billion USD	74.40 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	October 16, 1997	November 26, 1996
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CHRW

CNI

GSPC

C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) vs. Canadian National Railway (CNI), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) and Canadian National Railway (CNI). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) and Canadian National Railway (CNI). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) and Canadian National Railway (CNI)
Metric	CHRW	CNI
Total Return (1Y)	-12.63%	35.29%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	19.75%	6.80%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	8.87%	1.12%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CHRW

CNI

GSPC

C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) vs. Canadian National Railway (CNI), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) and Canadian National Railway (CNI). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) and Canadian National Railway (CNI)
Metric	CHRW	CNI
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	43.97%	22.27%
Beta (5Y)	0.93	0.89
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-40.55%	-29.13%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.72M	1.22M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CHRW and CNI are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) and Canadian National Railway (CNI)
Metric	CHRW	CNI
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.38	1.39
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.47	2.00

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at 38.93% and Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 22.45% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

CHRW

Transportation industry group

38.93%

Max: 45.08%
CHRW: 38.93%
Q3: 22.02%
Median: 13.94%
Q1: 2.89%
Min: -10.45%

CNI

Transportation industry group

22.45%

Max: 45.08%
CNI: 22.45%
Q3: 22.02%
Median: 13.94%
Q1: 2.89%
Min: -10.45%

C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) vs. Canadian National Railway (CNI): A comparison of their ROE against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 26.42% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at 3.67%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CHRW

Transportation industry group

3.67%

Max: 50.36%
Q3: 21.18%
Median: 5.58%
CHRW: 3.67%
Q1: 1.55%
Min: -11.37%

CNI

Transportation industry group

26.42%

Max: 50.36%
CNI: 26.42%
Q3: 21.18%
Median: 5.58%
Q1: 1.55%
Min: -11.37%

C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) vs. Canadian National Railway (CNI): A comparison of their net margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 41.52% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at 5.66%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CHRW

Transportation industry group

5.66%

Max: 59.18%
Q3: 29.30%
Median: 11.50%
CHRW: 5.66%
Q1: 4.62%
Min: -8.91%

CNI

Transportation industry group

41.52%

Max: 59.18%
CNI: 41.52%
Q3: 29.30%
Median: 11.50%
Q1: 4.62%
Min: -8.91%

C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) vs. Canadian National Railway (CNI): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) and Canadian National Railway (CNI)
Metric	CHRW	CNI
ROE (TTM)	38.93%	22.45%
ROA (TTM)	10.34%	7.87%
Net Margin (TTM)	3.67%	26.42%
Operating Margin (TTM)	5.66%	41.52%
Gross Margin (TTM)	8.34%	55.44%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 1.51% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at -8.42% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) vs. Canadian National Railway (CNI): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at 25.13% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 7.99% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for CHRW.

C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) vs. Canadian National Railway (CNI): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) and Canadian National Railway (CNI)
Metric	CHRW	CNI
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-8.42%	1.51%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-13.05%	0.38%
EPS Growth (YoY)	25.13%	7.99%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-13.26%	0.58%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at 1.34 and Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 0.82 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

CHRW

Transportation industry group

1.34

Max: 2.58
Q3: 1.62
CHRW: 1.34
Median: 1.16
Q1: 0.78
Min: 0.22

CNI

Transportation industry group

0.82

Max: 2.58
Q3: 1.62
Median: 1.16
CNI: 0.82
Q1: 0.78
Min: 0.22

C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) vs. Canadian National Railway (CNI): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at 1.36 and Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 1.09 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

CHRW

Transportation industry group

1.36

Max: 2.75
Q3: 1.37
CHRW: 1.36
Median: 0.78
Q1: 0.35
Min: 0.00

CNI

Transportation industry group

1.09

Max: 2.75
Q3: 1.37
CNI: 1.09
Median: 0.78
Q1: 0.35
Min: 0.00

C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) vs. Canadian National Railway (CNI): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) and Canadian National Railway (CNI)
Metric	CHRW	CNI
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.34	0.82
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.36	1.09
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.95	2.46

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 2.87% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at 1.96% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, CNI the richer one.

CHRW

Transportation industry group

1.96%

Max: 4.68%
Q3: 1.99%
CHRW: 1.96%
Median: 0.74%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

CNI

Transportation industry group

2.87%

Max: 4.68%
CNI: 2.87%
Q3: 1.99%
Median: 0.74%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) vs. Canadian National Railway (CNI): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at 45.24% and Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 45.63% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

CHRW

Transportation industry group

45.24%

Max: 100.89%
CHRW: 45.24%
Q3: 41.68%
Median: 20.43%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

CNI

Transportation industry group

45.63%

Max: 100.89%
CNI: 45.63%
Q3: 41.68%
Median: 20.43%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) vs. Canadian National Railway (CNI): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) and Canadian National Railway (CNI)
Metric	CHRW	CNI
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.96%	2.87%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	45.24%	45.63%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at 22.50 and Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 21.61 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

CHRW

Transportation industry group

22.50

Max: 46.76
Q3: 30.87
CHRW: 22.50
Median: 20.58
Q1: 10.44
Min: 0.00

CNI

Transportation industry group

21.61

Max: 46.76
Q3: 30.87
CNI: 21.61
Median: 20.58
Q1: 10.44
Min: 0.00

C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) vs. Canadian National Railway (CNI): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at 0.80 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 4.05 sits in the pricier quartile — CNI costs more per dollar of sales.

CHRW

Transportation industry group

0.80

Max: 4.35
Q3: 2.07
Median: 0.93
CHRW: 0.80
Q1: 0.53
Min: 0.04

CNI

Transportation industry group

4.05

Max: 4.35
CNI: 4.05
Q3: 2.07
Median: 0.93
Q1: 0.53
Min: 0.04

C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) vs. Canadian National Railway (CNI): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 4.77 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) at 9.20 prices even higher, above its industry range.

CHRW

Transportation industry group

9.20

CHRW: 9.20
Max: 6.29
Q3: 3.39
Median: 1.90
Q1: 1.03
Min: -2.07

CNI

Transportation industry group

4.77

Max: 6.29
CNI: 4.77
Q3: 3.39
Median: 1.90
Q1: 1.03
Min: -2.07

C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) vs. Canadian National Railway (CNI): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) and Canadian National Railway (CNI)
Metric	CHRW	CNI
P/E Ratio (TTM)	22.50	21.61
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.80	4.05
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	9.20	4.77
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.61%	3.30%