Seek Returns

CNI vs. RYAAY: Canadian National Railway vs. Ryanair Stock Comparison

How do Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Ryanair (RYAAY) 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 Ryanair (RYAAY) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but CNI is classified in Ground Transportation while RYAAY is classified in Passenger Airlines.

Canadian National Railway (CNI) trades as ordinary local shares, while Ryanair (RYAAY) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Ryanair (RYAAY)
Profile ItemCNIRYAAY
NameCanadian National Railway Co.Ryanair Holdings plc Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionCanadaIreland
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupTransportationTransportation
GICS IndustryGround TransportationPassenger Airlines
GICS Sub-IndustryRail TransportationPassenger Airlines
Market Capitalization74.40 billion USD30.71 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateNovember 26, 1996May 29, 1997
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CNI
RYAAY
GSPC
Loading price history…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Ryanair (RYAAY), 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 Ryanair (RYAAY). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Ryanair (RYAAY). 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 Ryanair (RYAAY)
MetricCNIRYAAY
Total Return (1Y)35.29%-2.55%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)6.80%14.57%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)1.12%5.74%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CNI
RYAAY
GSPC
Loading price history…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Ryanair (RYAAY), 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 Ryanair (RYAAY). 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 Ryanair (RYAAY)
MetricCNIRYAAY
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.27%37.69%
Beta (5Y)0.891.14
Max Drawdown (5Y)-29.13%-54.17%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.22M1.62M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
CNI and RYAAY 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 Ryanair (RYAAY)
MetricCNIRYAAY
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.39-0.18
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.00-0.27

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 22.45% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Ryanair (RYAAY) at 17.32% 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%

RYAAY

Transportation industry group

17.32%

Max
45.08%
Q3
22.02%
RYAAY
17.32%
Median
13.94%
Q1
2.89%
Min
-10.45%
Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Ryanair (RYAAY): 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 Ryanair (RYAAY) at 11.28%, 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%

RYAAY

Transportation industry group

11.28%

Max
50.36%
Q3
21.18%
RYAAY
11.28%
Median
5.58%
Q1
1.55%
Min
-11.37%
Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Ryanair (RYAAY): A comparison of their net margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 41.52% and Ryanair (RYAAY) at 31.94% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

CNI

Transportation industry group

41.52%

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

RYAAY

Transportation industry group

31.94%

Max
59.18%
RYAAY
31.94%
Q3
29.30%
Median
11.50%
Q1
4.62%
Min
-8.91%
Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Ryanair (RYAAY): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Ryanair (RYAAY)
MetricCNIRYAAY
ROE (TTM)22.45%17.32%
ROA (TTM)7.87%6.82%
Net Margin (TTM)26.42%11.28%
Operating Margin (TTM)41.52%31.94%
Gross Margin (TTM)55.44%27.18%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Ryanair (RYAAY) at 11.44% 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 RYAAY.

Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Ryanair (RYAAY): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Ryanair (RYAAY) at 40.37% 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 RYAAY.

Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Ryanair (RYAAY): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Ryanair (RYAAY)
MetricCNIRYAAY
Revenue Growth (YoY)1.51%11.44%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)0.38%12.99%
EPS Growth (YoY)7.99%40.37%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)0.58%21.00%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 0.82 and Ryanair (RYAAY) at 1.17 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

RYAAY

Transportation industry group

1.17

Max
2.58
Q3
1.62
RYAAY
1.17
Median
1.16
Q1
0.78
Min
0.22
Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Ryanair (RYAAY): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Ryanair (RYAAY) at 0.05 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

RYAAY

Transportation industry group

0.05

Max
2.75
Q3
1.37
Median
0.78
Q1
0.35
RYAAY
0.05
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Ryanair (RYAAY): 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 Ryanair (RYAAY)
MetricCNIRYAAY
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.821.17
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.090.05
Net Debt / EBITDA2.46-0.59

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 2.87% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Ryanair (RYAAY) at 0.80% 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%

RYAAY

Transportation industry group

0.80%

Max
4.68%
Q3
1.99%
RYAAY
0.80%
Median
0.74%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Ryanair (RYAAY): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Ryanair (RYAAY) at 22.67% 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%

RYAAY

Transportation industry group

22.67%

Max
100.89%
Q3
41.68%
RYAAY
22.67%
Median
20.43%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Ryanair (RYAAY): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Ryanair (RYAAY)
MetricCNIRYAAY
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.87%0.80%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)45.63%22.67%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 21.61 and Ryanair (RYAAY) at 14.90 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

RYAAY

Transportation industry group

14.90

Max
46.76
Q3
30.87
Median
20.58
RYAAY
14.90
Q1
10.44
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Ryanair (RYAAY): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Ryanair (RYAAY) at 1.94 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

RYAAY

Transportation industry group

1.94

Max
4.35
Q3
2.07
RYAAY
1.94
Median
0.93
Q1
0.53
Min
0.04
Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Ryanair (RYAAY): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Ryanair (RYAAY) at 2.35 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 4.77 carries an above-peer premium to book — CNI is pricier on assets.

CNI

Transportation industry group

4.77

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

RYAAY

Transportation industry group

2.35

Max
6.29
Q3
3.39
RYAAY
2.35
Median
1.90
Q1
1.03
Min
-2.07
Loading chart…
Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. Ryanair (RYAAY): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and Ryanair (RYAAY)
MetricCNIRYAAY
P/E Ratio (TTM)21.6114.90
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.051.94
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.772.35
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.30%-3.25%