CNI vs. CSX: Canadian National Railway vs. CSX Stock Comparison
How do Canadian National Railway (CNI) and CSX (CSX) 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
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.
| Profile Item | CNI | CSX |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Canadian National Railway Co. | 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 | 74.63 billion USD | 91.53 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | November 26, 1996 | November 3, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CNI | CSX |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 29.89% | 53.23% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 5.05% | 18.93% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 1.35% | 10.57% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CNI | CSX |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 21.93% | 22.25% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.96 | 1.20 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -29.13% | -29.44% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.61M | 11.78M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CNI | CSX |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.18 | 2.21 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.68 | 3.68 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 22.02% and CSX (CSX) at 24.36% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
CNI
Transportation industry group
22.02%
- Max
- 42.67%
- CNI
- 22.02%
- Q3
- 21.91%
- Median
- 11.31%
- Q1
- 1.36%
- Min
- -15.07%
CSX
Transportation industry group
24.36%
- Max
- 42.67%
- CSX
- 24.36%
- Q3
- 21.91%
- Median
- 11.31%
- Q1
- 1.36%
- Min
- -15.07%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 26.92% and CSX (CSX) at 22.21% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
CNI
Transportation industry group
26.92%
- Max
- 51.26%
- CNI
- 26.92%
- Q3
- 21.10%
- Median
- 5.43%
- Q1
- 0.83%
- Min
- -11.37%
CSX
Transportation industry group
22.21%
- Max
- 51.26%
- CSX
- 22.21%
- Q3
- 21.10%
- Median
- 5.43%
- Q1
- 0.83%
- Min
- -11.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 40.27% and CSX (CSX) at 38.42% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
CNI
Transportation industry group
40.27%
- Max
- 50.63%
- CNI
- 40.27%
- Q3
- 22.88%
- Median
- 9.27%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -11.50%
CSX
Transportation industry group
38.42%
- Max
- 50.63%
- CSX
- 38.42%
- Q3
- 22.88%
- Median
- 9.27%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -11.50%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CNI | CSX |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 22.02% | 24.36% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.72% | 7.38% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 26.92% | 22.21% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 40.27% | 38.42% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 55.97% | 47.07% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 1.51% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while CSX (CSX) at -3.08% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 7.99% and CSX (CSX) at -13.97% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CNI | CSX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 1.51% | -3.08% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 0.38% | -1.74% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 7.99% | -13.97% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 0.58% | -7.57% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 0.87 and CSX (CSX) at 0.82 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
CNI
Transportation industry group
0.87
- Max
- 2.50
- Q3
- 1.59
- Median
- 1.15
- CNI
- 0.87
- Q1
- 0.79
- Min
- 0.28
CSX
Transportation industry group
0.82
- Max
- 2.50
- Q3
- 1.59
- Median
- 1.15
- CSX
- 0.82
- Q1
- 0.79
- Min
- 0.28
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 1.04 and CSX (CSX) at 1.38 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
CNI
Transportation industry group
1.04
- Max
- 2.08
- Q3
- 1.38
- CNI
- 1.04
- Median
- 0.79
- Q1
- 0.36
- Min
- 0.00
CSX
Transportation industry group
1.38
- Max
- 2.08
- CSX
- 1.38
- Q3
- 1.38
- Median
- 0.79
- Q1
- 0.36
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CNI | CSX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.87 | 0.82 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.04 | 1.38 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.45 | 2.64 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 2.93% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while CSX (CSX) at 1.10% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, CNI the richer one.
CNI
Transportation industry group
2.93%
- Max
- 4.75%
- CNI
- 2.93%
- Q3
- 2.00%
- Median
- 0.76%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
CSX
Transportation industry group
1.10%
- Max
- 4.75%
- Q3
- 2.00%
- CSX
- 1.10%
- Median
- 0.76%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
CSX (CSX) at 31.40% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 46.28% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
CNI
Transportation industry group
46.28%
- Max
- 108.70%
- CNI
- 46.28%
- Q3
- 44.78%
- Median
- 21.03%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
CSX
Transportation industry group
31.40%
- Max
- 108.70%
- Q3
- 44.78%
- CSX
- 31.40%
- Median
- 21.03%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CNI | CSX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.93% | 1.10% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 46.28% | 31.40% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 21.91 and CSX (CSX) at 28.73 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
21.91
- Max
- 56.79
- Q3
- 30.91
- CNI
- 21.91
- Median
- 19.67
- Q1
- 12.11
- Min
- 2.43
CSX
Transportation industry group
28.73
- Max
- 56.79
- Q3
- 30.91
- CSX
- 28.73
- Median
- 19.67
- Q1
- 12.11
- Min
- 2.43
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on sales: Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 4.20 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and CSX (CSX) at 6.31 prices even higher, above its industry range.
CNI
Transportation industry group
4.20
- CNI
- 4.20
- Max
- 4.20
- Q3
- 2.29
- Median
- 1.21
- Q1
- 0.59
- Min
- 0.06
CSX
Transportation industry group
6.31
- CSX
- 6.31
- Max
- 4.20
- Q3
- 2.29
- Median
- 1.21
- Q1
- 0.59
- Min
- 0.06
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 4.72 and CSX (CSX) at 6.50 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
CNI
Transportation industry group
4.72
- Max
- 7.22
- CNI
- 4.72
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 2.01
- Q1
- 1.22
- Min
- -2.19
CSX
Transportation industry group
6.50
- Max
- 7.22
- CSX
- 6.50
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 2.01
- Q1
- 1.22
- Min
- -2.19
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CNI | CSX |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 21.91 | 28.73 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.20 | 6.31 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.72 | 6.50 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.06% | 2.13% |