CNI vs. JBHT: Canadian National Railway vs. J.B. Hunt Transport Services Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Canadian National Railway (CNI) and J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) 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 J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) both belong to the Ground Transportation industry, though CNI is classified under Rail Transportation while JBHT falls under Cargo Ground Transportation.

Company profile comparison for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT)
Profile Item	CNI	JBHT
Name	Canadian National Railway Co.	J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.
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	Cargo Ground Transportation
Market Capitalization	74.40 billion USD	20.28 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	November 26, 1996	November 22, 1983
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CNI

JBHT

GSPC

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT), 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 J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT). 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 J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT)
Metric	CNI	JBHT
Total Return (1Y)	35.29%	32.27%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	6.80%	10.37%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	1.12%	3.78%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CNI

JBHT

GSPC

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT), 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 J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT). 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 J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT)
Metric	CNI	JBHT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	22.27%	34.65%
Beta (5Y)	0.89	1.25
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-29.13%	-42.42%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.22M	976.33K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CNI and JBHT 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 J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT)
Metric	CNI	JBHT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.39	0.81
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	2.00	1.15

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 22.45% sits in the top ROE quartile, while J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 18.77% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CNI.

CNI

Transportation industry group

22.45%

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

JBHT

Transportation industry group

18.77%

Max: 45.08%
Q3: 22.02%
JBHT: 18.77%
Median: 13.94%
Q1: 2.89%
Min: -10.45%

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT): 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 J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 5.07%, 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%

JBHT

Transportation industry group

5.07%

Max: 50.36%
Q3: 21.18%
Median: 5.58%
JBHT: 5.07%
Q1: 1.55%
Min: -11.37%

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT): 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 J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 6.72%, 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%

JBHT

Transportation industry group

6.72%

Max: 59.18%
Q3: 29.30%
Median: 11.50%
JBHT: 6.72%
Q1: 4.62%
Min: -8.91%

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT)
Metric	CNI	JBHT
ROE (TTM)	22.45%	18.77%
ROA (TTM)	7.87%	7.41%
Net Margin (TTM)	26.42%	5.07%
Operating Margin (TTM)	41.52%	6.72%
Gross Margin (TTM)	55.44%	17.88%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 1.51% and J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at -0.73% 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. J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 7.99% and J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 10.07% 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. J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT)
Metric	CNI	JBHT
Revenue Growth (YoY)	1.51%	-0.73%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	0.38%	-6.78%
EPS Growth (YoY)	7.99%	10.07%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	0.58%	-12.74%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 0.82 and J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 1.23 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

JBHT

Transportation industry group

1.23

Max: 2.58
Q3: 1.62
JBHT: 1.23
Median: 1.16
Q1: 0.78
Min: 0.22

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 1.09 and J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 0.40 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

CNI

Transportation industry group

1.09

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

JBHT

Transportation industry group

0.40

Max: 2.75
Q3: 1.37
Median: 0.78
JBHT: 0.40
Q1: 0.35
Min: 0.00

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT): 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 J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT)
Metric	CNI	JBHT
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.82	1.23
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.09	0.40
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.46	0.86

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 2.87% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 0.82% 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%

JBHT

Transportation industry group

0.82%

Max: 4.68%
Q3: 1.99%
JBHT: 0.82%
Median: 0.74%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 25.25% 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%

JBHT

Transportation industry group

25.25%

Max: 100.89%
Q3: 41.68%
JBHT: 25.25%
Median: 20.43%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT)
Metric	CNI	JBHT
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.87%	0.82%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	45.63%	25.25%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 21.61 and J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 30.68 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

JBHT

Transportation industry group

30.68

Max: 46.76
Q3: 30.87
JBHT: 30.68
Median: 20.58
Q1: 10.44
Min: 0.00

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 1.52 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

JBHT

Transportation industry group

1.52

Max: 4.35
Q3: 2.07
JBHT: 1.52
Median: 0.93
Q1: 0.53
Min: 0.04

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 4.77 and J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 5.58 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

CNI

Transportation industry group

4.77

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

JBHT

Transportation industry group

5.58

Max: 6.29
JBHT: 5.58
Q3: 3.39
Median: 1.90
Q1: 1.03
Min: -2.07

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT)
Metric	CNI	JBHT
P/E Ratio (TTM)	21.61	30.68
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.05	1.52
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	4.77	5.58
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.30%	4.15%