CNI vs. EXPD: Canadian National Railway vs. Expeditors Intl of Washington Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) 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 Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but CNI is classified in Ground Transportation while EXPD is classified in Air Freight & Logistics.

Company profile comparison for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD)
Profile Item	CNI	EXPD
Name	Canadian National Railway Co.	Expeditors International of Washington Inc.
Country/Region	Canada	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Transportation	Transportation
GICS Industry	Ground Transportation	Air Freight & Logistics
GICS Sub-Industry	Rail Transportation	Air Freight & Logistics
Market Capitalization	74.40 billion USD	23.84 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	November 26, 1996	September 26, 1984
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CNI

EXPD

GSPC

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD), 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 Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD)
Metric	CNI	EXPD
Total Return (1Y)	35.29%	38.17%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	6.80%	19.62%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	1.12%	9.71%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CNI

EXPD

GSPC

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD), 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 Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD)
Metric	CNI	EXPD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	22.27%	29.21%
Beta (5Y)	0.89	1.08
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-29.13%	-35.62%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.22M	1.06M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CNI and EXPD 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 Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD)
Metric	CNI	EXPD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.39	1.16
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	2.00	1.60

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 22.45% and Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 45.08% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

CNI

Transportation industry group

22.45%

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

EXPD

Transportation industry group

45.08%

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

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD): 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 Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 7.86%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CNI

Transportation industry group

26.42%

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

EXPD

Transportation industry group

7.86%

Max: 50.36%
Q3: 21.18%
EXPD: 7.86%
Median: 5.58%
Q1: 1.55%
Min: -11.37%

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD): 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 Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 10.84%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CNI

Transportation industry group

41.52%

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

EXPD

Transportation industry group

10.84%

Max: 59.18%
Q3: 29.30%
Median: 11.50%
EXPD: 10.84%
Q1: 4.62%
Min: -8.91%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD)
Metric	CNI	EXPD
ROE (TTM)	22.45%	45.08%
ROA (TTM)	7.87%	16.16%
Net Margin (TTM)	26.42%	7.86%
Operating Margin (TTM)	41.52%	10.84%
Gross Margin (TTM)	55.44%	13.51%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 1.51% and Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 4.42% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 7.99% and Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 4.02% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD)
Metric	CNI	EXPD
Revenue Growth (YoY)	1.51%	4.42%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	0.38%	-13.45%
EPS Growth (YoY)	7.99%	4.02%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	0.58%	-10.36%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 0.82 and Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 1.56 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

CNI

Transportation industry group

0.82

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

EXPD

Transportation industry group

1.56

Max: 2.58
Q3: 1.62
EXPD: 1.56
Median: 1.16
Q1: 0.78
Min: 0.22

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 0.25 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 1.09 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

CNI

Transportation industry group

1.09

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

EXPD

Transportation industry group

0.25

Max: 2.75
Q3: 1.37
Median: 0.78
Q1: 0.35
EXPD: 0.25
Min: 0.00

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

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD)
Metric	CNI	EXPD
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.82	1.56
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.09	0.25
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.46	-0.36

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 2.87% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 0.84% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, CNI the richer one.

CNI

Transportation industry group

2.87%

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

EXPD

Transportation industry group

0.84%

Max: 4.68%
Q3: 1.99%
EXPD: 0.84%
Median: 0.74%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 20.08% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 45.63% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

CNI

Transportation industry group

45.63%

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

EXPD

Transportation industry group

20.08%

Max: 100.89%
Q3: 41.68%
Median: 20.43%
EXPD: 20.08%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD)
Metric	CNI	EXPD
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.87%	0.84%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	45.63%	20.08%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 21.61 and Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 23.46 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

21.61

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

EXPD

Transportation industry group

23.46

Max: 46.76
Q3: 30.87
EXPD: 23.46
Median: 20.58
Q1: 10.44
Min: 0.00

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 1.80 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.

CNI

Transportation industry group

4.05

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

EXPD

Transportation industry group

1.80

Max: 4.35
Q3: 2.07
EXPD: 1.80
Median: 0.93
Q1: 0.53
Min: 0.04

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD): 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 Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 10.21 prices even higher, above its industry range.

CNI

Transportation industry group

4.77

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

EXPD

Transportation industry group

10.21

EXPD: 10.21
Max: 6.29
Q3: 3.39
Median: 1.90
Q1: 1.03
Min: -2.07

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD)
Metric	CNI	EXPD
P/E Ratio (TTM)	21.61	23.46
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.05	1.80
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	4.77	10.21
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.30%	3.31%