CNI vs. CSX: Canadian National Railway vs. CSX Stock Comparison

June 13, 2026

This page compares Canadian National Railway (CNI) with CSX (CSX) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.

Performance

Cumulative Growth

CNI

CSX

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. CSX (CSX): 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 Canadian National Railway (CNI) and CSX (CSX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Performance at a Glance

Performance metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and CSX (CSX)
Metric	CNI	CSX
1-Year Return	15.14%	48.94%

Risk

Drawdown

CNI

CSX

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. CSX (CSX): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Risk at a Glance

Risk metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and CSX (CSX)
Metric	CNI	CSX
1-Year Volatility	21.94%	22.30%
Beta	0.96	1.21
3-Month Avg. Volume	1.51M	12.64M

Company Profile

Canadian National Railway (CNI) and CSX (CSX) are both classified in the Rail Transportation sub-industry within the broader Ground Transportation industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and CSX (CSX)
Profile Item	CNI	CSX
Name	Canadian National Railway Company	CSX Corporation
Country/Region	Canada	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Transportation	Transportation
GICS Industry	Ground Transportation	Ground Transportation
GICS Sub-Industry	Rail Transportation	Rail Transportation
Market Capitalization	72.17 billion USD	88.39 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	November 26, 1996	November 3, 1980
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 21.87 and CSX (CSX) at 29.18 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

CNI

Transportation industry group

21.87

Max: 96.57
Q3: 48.32
Median: 23.00
CNI: 21.87
Q1: 13.51
Min: 0.00

CSX

Transportation industry group

29.18

Max: 96.57
Q3: 48.32
CSX: 29.18
Median: 23.00
Q1: 13.51
Min: 0.00

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. CSX (CSX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 4.18 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and CSX (CSX) at 6.25 prices even higher, above its industry range.

CNI

Transportation industry group

4.18

CNI: 4.18
Max: 4.18
Q3: 2.26
Median: 1.11
Q1: 0.60
Min: 0.07

CSX

Transportation industry group

6.25

CSX: 6.25
Max: 4.18
Q3: 2.26
Median: 1.11
Q1: 0.60
Min: 0.07

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. CSX (CSX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 4.68 and CSX (CSX) at 6.51 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

CNI

Transportation industry group

4.68

Max: 8.88
CNI: 4.68
Q3: 4.49
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.24
Min: -2.43

CSX

Transportation industry group

6.51

Max: 8.88
CSX: 6.51
Q3: 4.49
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.24
Min: -2.43

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. CSX (CSX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

Valuation metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and CSX (CSX)
Metric	CNI	CSX
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	21.87	29.18
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	4.18	6.25
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	4.68	6.51
Free Cash Flow Yield	3.60%	1.28%

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 21.85% and CSX (CSX) at 23.68% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

CNI

Transportation industry group

21.85%

Max: 43.37%
CNI: 21.85%
Q3: 20.41%
Median: 10.34%
Q1: 1.88%
Min: -18.53%

CSX

Transportation industry group

23.68%

Max: 43.37%
CSX: 23.68%
Q3: 20.41%
Median: 10.34%
Q1: 1.88%
Min: -18.53%

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. CSX (CSX): A comparison of their ROE against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 27.23% and CSX (CSX) at 21.55% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

CNI

Transportation industry group

27.23%

Max: 43.82%
CNI: 27.23%
Q3: 19.14%
Median: 5.11%
Q1: 0.86%
Min: -9.62%

CSX

Transportation industry group

21.55%

Max: 43.82%
CSX: 21.55%
Q3: 19.14%
Median: 5.11%
Q1: 0.86%
Min: -9.62%

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. CSX (CSX): A comparison of their net margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 38.41% and CSX (CSX) at 36.16% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

CNI

Transportation industry group

38.41%

Max: 54.53%
CNI: 38.41%
Q3: 24.85%
Median: 6.34%
Q1: 1.12%
Min: -33.27%

CSX

Transportation industry group

36.16%

Max: 54.53%
CSX: 36.16%
Q3: 24.85%
Median: 6.34%
Q1: 1.12%
Min: -33.27%

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. CSX (CSX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

Profitability metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and CSX (CSX)
Metric	CNI	CSX
Return on Equity (TTM)	21.85%	23.68%
Return on Assets (TTM)	7.56%	7.08%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	27.23%	21.55%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	38.41%	36.16%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	56.66%	46.82%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. CSX (CSX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth at a Glance

Revenue growth metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and CSX (CSX)
Metric	CNI	CSX
1-Year Revenue Growth	1.51%	-3.08%
3-Year Revenue CAGR	0.38%	-1.74%

EPS Growth

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. CSX (CSX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth at a Glance

EPS growth metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and CSX (CSX)
Metric	CNI	CSX
1-Year EPS Growth	7.99%	-13.97%
3-Year EPS CAGR	0.58%	-7.57%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

CSX (CSX) at 0.97 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 0.67 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for CNI.

CNI

Transportation industry group

0.67

Max: 2.26
Q3: 1.61
Median: 1.16
Q1: 0.84
CNI: 0.67
Min: 0.42

CSX

Transportation industry group

0.97

Max: 2.26
Q3: 1.61
Median: 1.16
CSX: 0.97
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.42

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. CSX (CSX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 1.06 and CSX (CSX) at 1.43 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

CNI

Transportation industry group

1.06

Max: 3.37
Q3: 1.64
CNI: 1.06
Median: 0.80
Q1: 0.36
Min: 0.00

CSX

Transportation industry group

1.43

Max: 3.37
Q3: 1.64
CSX: 1.43
Median: 0.80
Q1: 0.36
Min: 0.00

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

Financial Strength at a Glance

Financial strength metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and CSX (CSX)
Metric	CNI	CSX
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.67	0.97
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	1.06	1.43
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.45	2.77

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 2.21% and CSX (CSX) at 1.18% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

CNI

Transportation industry group

2.21%

Max: 6.07%
Q3: 2.46%
CNI: 2.21%
Median: 0.94%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

CSX

Transportation industry group

1.18%

Max: 6.07%
Q3: 2.46%
CSX: 1.18%
Median: 0.94%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. CSX (CSX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

CSX (CSX) at 32.52% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 47.13% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

CNI

Transportation industry group

47.13%

Max: 106.15%
CNI: 47.13%
Q3: 45.72%
Median: 20.46%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

CSX

Transportation industry group

32.52%

Max: 106.15%
Q3: 45.72%
CSX: 32.52%
Median: 20.46%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. CSX (CSX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividends at a Glance

Dividend metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and CSX (CSX)
Metric	CNI	CSX
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.21%	1.18%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	47.13%	32.52%