CNI vs. LTM: Canadian National Railway vs. LATAM Airlines Stock Comparison
How do Canadian National Railway (CNI) and LATAM Airlines (LTM) 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 LATAM Airlines (LTM) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but CNI is classified in Ground Transportation while LTM is classified in Passenger Airlines.
Canadian National Railway (CNI) carries decades of public-market history since November 26, 1996, while LATAM Airlines (LTM) listed on July 25, 2024 — long-window comparisons have far more historical data on the CNI side.
Canadian National Railway (CNI) trades as ordinary local shares, while LATAM Airlines (LTM) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | CNI | LTM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Canadian National Railway Co. | LATAM Airlines Group S.A. ADR |
| Country/Region | Canada | Chile |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Transportation | Transportation |
| GICS Industry | Ground Transportation | Passenger Airlines |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Rail Transportation | Passenger Airlines |
| Market Capitalization | 74.40 billion USD | 13.60 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 26, 1996 | July 25, 2024 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CNI | LTM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 35.29% | 12.94% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 6.80% | -- |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 1.12% | -- |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CNI | LTM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 22.27% | 45.42% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.89 | 0.64 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -29.13% | -37.94% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.22M | 862.11K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CNI | LTM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.39 | 0.19 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.00 | 0.30 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 98.02% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 22.45% also sits in the top quartile.
CNI
Transportation industry group
22.45%
- Max
- 45.08%
- CNI
- 22.45%
- Q3
- 22.02%
- Median
- 13.94%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -10.45%
LTM
Transportation industry group
98.02%
- LTM
- 98.02%
- Max
- 45.08%
- Q3
- 22.02%
- Median
- 13.94%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -10.45%
Net Margin (TTM)
Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 26.42% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 9.82%, 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%
LTM
Transportation industry group
9.82%
- Max
- 50.36%
- Q3
- 21.18%
- LTM
- 9.82%
- Median
- 5.58%
- Q1
- 1.55%
- Min
- -11.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 41.52% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 13.14%, 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%
LTM
Transportation industry group
13.14%
- Max
- 59.18%
- Q3
- 29.30%
- LTM
- 13.14%
- Median
- 11.50%
- Q1
- 4.62%
- Min
- -8.91%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CNI | LTM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 22.45% | 98.02% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.87% | 7.59% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 26.42% | 9.82% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 41.52% | 13.14% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 55.44% | 24.99% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 11.16% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 1.51% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for LTM.
EPS Growth
LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 53.28% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 7.99% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for LTM.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CNI | LTM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 1.51% | 11.16% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 0.38% | 15.07% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 7.99% | 53.28% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 0.58% | -2.05% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 0.82 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 0.68 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for LTM.
CNI
Transportation industry group
0.82
- Max
- 2.58
- Q3
- 1.62
- Median
- 1.16
- CNI
- 0.82
- Q1
- 0.78
- Min
- 0.22
LTM
Transportation industry group
0.68
- Max
- 2.58
- Q3
- 1.62
- Median
- 1.16
- Q1
- 0.78
- LTM
- 0.68
- Min
- 0.22
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 1.09 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 4.18 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.
CNI
Transportation industry group
1.09
- Max
- 2.75
- Q3
- 1.37
- CNI
- 1.09
- Median
- 0.78
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
LTM
Transportation industry group
4.18
- LTM
- 4.18
- Max
- 2.75
- Q3
- 1.37
- Median
- 0.78
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CNI | LTM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.82 | 0.68 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.09 | 4.18 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.46 | 1.75 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 2.87% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 0.00% 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%
LTM
Transportation industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 4.68%
- Q3
- 1.99%
- Median
- 0.74%
- LTM
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 27.08% 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%
LTM
Transportation industry group
27.08%
- Max
- 100.89%
- Q3
- 41.68%
- LTM
- 27.08%
- Median
- 20.43%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CNI | LTM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.87% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 45.63% | 27.08% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 8.44 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 21.61 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for LTM, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
CNI
Transportation industry group
21.61
- Max
- 46.76
- Q3
- 30.87
- CNI
- 21.61
- Median
- 20.58
- Q1
- 10.44
- Min
- 0.00
LTM
Transportation industry group
8.44
- Max
- 46.76
- Q3
- 30.87
- Median
- 20.58
- Q1
- 10.44
- LTM
- 8.44
- Min
- 0.00
P/S Ratio (TTM)
LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 0.82 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
LTM
Transportation industry group
0.82
- Max
- 4.35
- Q3
- 2.07
- Median
- 0.93
- LTM
- 0.82
- Q1
- 0.53
- Min
- 0.04
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 4.77 and LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 5.96 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
LTM
Transportation industry group
5.96
- Max
- 6.29
- LTM
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.39
- Median
- 1.90
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- -2.07
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CNI | LTM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 21.61 | 8.44 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.05 | 0.82 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.77 | 5.96 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.30% | 11.80% |