CNI vs. UPS: Canadian National Railway vs. United Parcel Service Stock Comparison

June 13, 2026

This page compares Canadian National Railway (CNI) with United Parcel Service (UPS) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.

Performance

Cumulative Growth

CNI

UPS

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): 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 United Parcel Service (UPS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Performance at a Glance

Performance metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
Metric	CNI	UPS
1-Year Return	15.14%	14.48%

Risk

Drawdown

CNI

UPS

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): 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 United Parcel Service (UPS)
Metric	CNI	UPS
1-Year Volatility	21.94%	29.78%
Beta	0.96	1.05
3-Month Avg. Volume	1.51M	6.03M

Company Profile

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

Company profile comparison for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
Profile Item	CNI	UPS
Name	Canadian National Railway Company	United Parcel Service, Inc.
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	91.89 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	November 26, 1996	November 10, 1999
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 21.87 and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 17.49 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

UPS

Transportation industry group

17.49

Max: 96.57
Q3: 48.32
Median: 23.00
UPS: 17.49
Q1: 13.51
Min: 0.00

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

United Parcel Service (UPS) at 1.04 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

UPS

Transportation industry group

1.04

Max: 4.18
Q3: 2.26
Median: 1.11
UPS: 1.04
Q1: 0.60
Min: 0.07

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 4.68 and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 5.66 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

CNI

Transportation industry group

4.68

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

UPS

Transportation industry group

5.66

Max: 8.88
UPS: 5.66
Q3: 4.49
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.24
Min: -2.43

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): 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 United Parcel Service (UPS)
Metric	CNI	UPS
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	21.87	17.49
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	4.18	1.04
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	4.68	5.66
Free Cash Flow Yield	3.60%	5.03%

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 21.85% and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 33.35% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

CNI

Transportation industry group

21.85%

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

UPS

Transportation industry group

33.35%

Max: 43.37%
UPS: 33.35%
Q3: 20.41%
Median: 10.34%
Q1: 1.88%
Min: -18.53%

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): 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 United Parcel Service (UPS) at 5.94%, 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%

UPS

Transportation industry group

5.94%

Max: 43.82%
Q3: 19.14%
UPS: 5.94%
Median: 5.11%
Q1: 0.86%
Min: -9.62%

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): 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 United Parcel Service (UPS) at 6.33%, 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%

UPS

Transportation industry group

6.33%

Max: 54.53%
Q3: 24.85%
Median: 6.34%
UPS: 6.33%
Q1: 1.12%
Min: -33.27%

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

Profitability metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
Metric	CNI	UPS
Return on Equity (TTM)	21.85%	33.35%
Return on Assets (TTM)	7.56%	7.19%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	27.23%	5.94%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	38.41%	6.33%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	56.66%	22.45%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth at a Glance

Revenue growth metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
Metric	CNI	UPS
1-Year Revenue Growth	1.51%	-2.65%
3-Year Revenue CAGR	0.38%	-4.04%

EPS Growth

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth at a Glance

EPS growth metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
Metric	CNI	UPS
1-Year EPS Growth	7.99%	-2.81%
3-Year EPS CAGR	0.58%	-20.79%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

United Parcel Service (UPS) at 1.21 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

UPS

Transportation industry group

1.21

Max: 2.26
Q3: 1.61
UPS: 1.21
Median: 1.16
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.42

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 1.06 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while United Parcel Service (UPS) at 1.82 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CNI

Transportation industry group

1.06

Max: 3.37
Q3: 1.64
CNI: 1.06
Median: 0.80
Q1: 0.36
Min: 0.00

UPS

Transportation industry group

1.82

Max: 3.37
UPS: 1.82
Q3: 1.64
Median: 0.80
Q1: 0.36
Min: 0.00

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): 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 United Parcel Service (UPS)
Metric	CNI	UPS
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.67	1.21
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	1.06	1.82
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.45	1.93

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

United Parcel Service (UPS) at 6.07% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 2.21% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, UPS the richer one.

CNI

Transportation industry group

2.21%

Max: 6.07%
Q3: 2.46%
CNI: 2.21%
Median: 0.94%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

UPS

Transportation industry group

6.07%

UPS: 6.07%
Max: 6.07%
Q3: 2.46%
Median: 0.94%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

United Parcel Service (UPS) reports payout ratio above 100% at 106.15%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Canadian National Railway (CNI) reports 47.13%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CNI

Transportation industry group

47.13%

Max: 106.15%
CNI: 47.13%
Q3: 45.72%
Median: 20.46%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

UPS

Transportation industry group

106.15%

UPS: 106.15%
Max: 106.15%
Q3: 45.72%
Median: 20.46%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividends at a Glance

Dividend metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
Metric	CNI	UPS
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.21%	6.07%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	47.13%	106.15%