CNI vs. FDX: Canadian National Railway vs. FedEx Stock Comparison

June 13, 2026

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

Performance

Cumulative Growth

CNI

FDX

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. FedEx (FDX): 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 FedEx (FDX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Performance at a Glance

Performance metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and FedEx (FDX)
Metric	CNI	FDX
1-Year Return	15.14%	90.74%

Risk

Drawdown

CNI

FDX

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. FedEx (FDX): 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 FedEx (FDX)
Metric	CNI	FDX
1-Year Volatility	21.94%	28.92%
Beta	0.96	1.28
3-Month Avg. Volume	1.51M	2.17M

Company Profile

Canadian National Railway (CNI) and FedEx (FDX) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but CNI is classified in Ground Transportation while FDX is classified in Air Freight & Logistics.

Company profile comparison for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and FedEx (FDX)
Profile Item	CNI	FDX
Name	Canadian National Railway Company	FedEx Corporation
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	72.17 billion USD	80.72 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	November 26, 1996	April 12, 1978
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 21.87 and FedEx (FDX) at 18.05 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

FDX

Transportation industry group

18.05

Max: 96.57
Q3: 48.32
Median: 23.00
FDX: 18.05
Q1: 13.51
Min: 0.00

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

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

FedEx (FDX) at 0.88 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 4.18 sits in the pricier quartile — CNI costs more per dollar of sales.

CNI

Transportation industry group

4.18

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

FDX

Transportation industry group

0.88

Max: 4.18
Q3: 2.26
Median: 1.11
FDX: 0.88
Q1: 0.60
Min: 0.07

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

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

FedEx (FDX) at 2.71 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 4.68 carries an above-peer premium to book — CNI is pricier on assets.

CNI

Transportation industry group

4.68

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

FDX

Transportation industry group

2.71

Max: 8.88
Q3: 4.49
FDX: 2.71
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.24
Min: -2.43

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. FedEx (FDX): 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 FedEx (FDX)
Metric	CNI	FDX
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	21.87	18.05
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	4.18	0.88
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	4.68	2.71
Free Cash Flow Yield	3.60%	1.11%

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 21.85% sits in the top ROE quartile, while FedEx (FDX) at 15.87% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CNI.

CNI

Transportation industry group

21.85%

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

FDX

Transportation industry group

15.87%

Max: 43.37%
Q3: 20.41%
FDX: 15.87%
Median: 10.34%
Q1: 1.88%
Min: -18.53%

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

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 27.23% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of FedEx (FDX) at 4.88%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CNI

Transportation industry group

27.23%

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

FDX

Transportation industry group

4.88%

Max: 43.82%
Q3: 19.14%
Median: 5.11%
FDX: 4.88%
Q1: 0.86%
Min: -9.62%

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

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 38.41% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of FedEx (FDX) at 6.94%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CNI

Transportation industry group

38.41%

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

FDX

Transportation industry group

6.94%

Max: 54.53%
Q3: 24.85%
FDX: 6.94%
Median: 6.34%
Q1: 1.12%
Min: -33.27%

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

Profitability at a Glance

Profitability metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and FedEx (FDX)
Metric	CNI	FDX
Return on Equity (TTM)	21.85%	15.87%
Return on Assets (TTM)	7.56%	5.03%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	27.23%	4.88%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	38.41%	6.94%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	56.66%	27.55%

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

Revenue Growth at a Glance

Revenue growth metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and FedEx (FDX)
Metric	CNI	FDX
1-Year Revenue Growth	1.51%	0.27%
3-Year Revenue CAGR	0.38%	-2.03%

EPS Growth

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

EPS Growth at a Glance

EPS growth metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and FedEx (FDX)
Metric	CNI	FDX
1-Year EPS Growth	7.99%	-2.32%
3-Year EPS CAGR	0.58%	5.46%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

FedEx (FDX) at 1.47 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

FDX

Transportation industry group

1.47

Max: 2.26
Q3: 1.61
FDX: 1.47
Median: 1.16
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.42

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. FedEx (FDX): 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 FedEx (FDX) at 1.41 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

FDX

Transportation industry group

1.41

Max: 3.37
Q3: 1.64
FDX: 1.41
Median: 0.80
Q1: 0.36
Min: 0.00

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. FedEx (FDX): 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 FedEx (FDX)
Metric	CNI	FDX
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.67	1.47
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	1.06	1.41
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.45	2.92

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 2.21% and FedEx (FDX) at 1.44% 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%

FDX

Transportation industry group

1.44%

Max: 6.07%
Q3: 2.46%
FDX: 1.44%
Median: 0.94%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

FedEx (FDX) at 30.59% 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%

FDX

Transportation industry group

30.59%

Max: 106.15%
Q3: 45.72%
FDX: 30.59%
Median: 20.46%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividends at a Glance

Dividend metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and FedEx (FDX)
Metric	CNI	FDX
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.21%	1.44%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	47.13%	30.59%