Seek Returns

CNI vs. ODFL: Canadian National Railway vs. Old Dominion Freight Line Stock Comparison

How do Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) 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 Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) both belong to the Ground Transportation industry, though CNI is classified under Rail Transportation while ODFL falls under Cargo Ground Transportation.

Company profile comparison for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL)
Profile ItemCNIODFL
NameCanadian National Railway Co.Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.
Country/RegionCanadaUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupTransportationTransportation
GICS IndustryGround TransportationGround Transportation
GICS Sub-IndustryRail TransportationCargo Ground Transportation
Market Capitalization74.40 billion USD33.98 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateNovember 26, 1996October 24, 1991
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CNI
ODFL
GSPC
Loading price history…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL), 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL). 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 Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL)
MetricCNIODFL
Total Return (1Y)35.29%22.71%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)6.80%-3.43%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)1.12%-0.10%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CNI
ODFL
GSPC
Loading price history…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL), 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL). 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 Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL)
MetricCNIODFL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.27%38.79%
Beta (5Y)0.891.14
Max Drawdown (5Y)-29.13%-45.18%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.22M1.83M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
CNI and ODFL 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 Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL)
MetricCNIODFL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.390.48
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.000.70

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 22.45% and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 26.01% 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%

ODFL

Transportation industry group

26.01%

Max
45.08%
ODFL
26.01%
Q3
22.02%
Median
13.94%
Q1
2.89%
Min
-10.45%
Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL): 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 Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 20.08%, 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%

ODFL

Transportation industry group

20.08%

Max
50.36%
Q3
21.18%
ODFL
20.08%
Median
5.58%
Q1
1.55%
Min
-11.37%
Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL): 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 Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 28.52%, 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%

ODFL

Transportation industry group

28.52%

Max
59.18%
Q3
29.30%
ODFL
28.52%
Median
11.50%
Q1
4.62%
Min
-8.91%
Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL)
MetricCNIODFL
ROE (TTM)22.45%26.01%
ROA (TTM)7.87%16.59%
Net Margin (TTM)26.42%20.08%
Operating Margin (TTM)41.52%28.52%
Gross Margin (TTM)55.44%39.88%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 1.51% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at -5.48% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 7.99% and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at -11.68% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL)
MetricCNIODFL
Revenue Growth (YoY)1.51%-5.48%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)0.38%-4.24%
EPS Growth (YoY)7.99%-11.68%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)0.58%-7.37%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 0.82 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 2.04 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets 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

ODFL

Transportation industry group

2.04

Max
2.58
ODFL
2.04
Q3
1.62
Median
1.16
Q1
0.78
Min
0.22
Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 0.00 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

ODFL

Transportation industry group

0.00

Max
2.75
Q3
1.37
Median
0.78
Q1
0.35
ODFL
0.00
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL): 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 Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL)
MetricCNIODFL
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.822.04
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.090.00
Net Debt / EBITDA2.46-0.24

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 2.87% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 0.67% 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%

ODFL

Transportation industry group

0.67%

Max
4.68%
Q3
1.99%
Median
0.74%
ODFL
0.67%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 20.65% 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%

ODFL

Transportation industry group

20.65%

Max
100.89%
Q3
41.68%
ODFL
20.65%
Median
20.43%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL)
MetricCNIODFL
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.87%0.67%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)45.63%20.65%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 21.61 and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 29.61 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

ODFL

Transportation industry group

29.61

Max
46.76
Q3
30.87
ODFL
29.61
Median
20.58
Q1
10.44
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 4.05 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 5.87 prices even higher, above its industry range.

CNI

Transportation industry group

4.05

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

ODFL

Transportation industry group

5.87

ODFL
5.87
Max
4.35
Q3
2.07
Median
0.93
Q1
0.53
Min
0.04
Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL): 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 Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 7.29 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

ODFL

Transportation industry group

7.29

ODFL
7.29
Max
6.29
Q3
3.39
Median
1.90
Q1
1.03
Min
-2.07
Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL)
MetricCNIODFL
P/E Ratio (TTM)21.6129.61
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.055.87
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.777.29
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.30%2.93%