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

How do Canadian National Railway (CNI) and United Parcel Service (UPS) 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 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 ItemCNIUPS
NameCanadian National Railway CompanyUnited Parcel Service, Inc.
Country/RegionCanadaUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupTransportationTransportation
GICS IndustryGround TransportationAir Freight & Logistics
GICS Sub-IndustryRail TransportationAir Freight & Logistics
Market Capitalization77.10 billion USD98.89 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateNovember 26, 1996November 10, 1999
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and United Parcel Service (UPS). 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 United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricCNIUPS
Total Return (1Y)30.04%25.72%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)4.47%-9.86%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.11%-7.25%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CNI
UPS
GSPC
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Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS), 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 United Parcel Service (UPS). 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 United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricCNIUPS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)21.98%30.59%
Beta (5Y)0.961.05
Max Drawdown (5Y)-29.13%-57.92%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.51M5.60M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CNI and UPS 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 United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricCNIUPS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.180.71
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.690.96

Profitability

ROE (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
19.94%
Median
10.23%
Q1
1.86%
Min
-18.53%

UPS

Transportation industry group

33.35%

Max
43.37%
UPS
33.35%
Q3
19.94%
Median
10.23%
Q1
1.86%
Min
-18.53%
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Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their ROE against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net 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
18.75%
Median
5.20%
Q1
0.62%
Min
-9.62%

UPS

Transportation industry group

5.94%

Max
43.82%
Q3
18.75%
UPS
5.94%
Median
5.20%
Q1
0.62%
Min
-9.62%
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Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their net margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Operating 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
24.38%
Median
7.26%
Q1
1.31%
Min
-33.27%

UPS

Transportation industry group

6.33%

Max
54.53%
Q3
24.38%
Median
7.26%
UPS
6.33%
Q1
1.31%
Min
-33.27%
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Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricCNIUPS
ROE (TTM)21.85%33.35%
ROA (TTM)7.56%7.19%
Net Margin (TTM)27.23%5.94%
Operating Margin (TTM)38.41%6.33%
Gross Margin (TTM)56.66%22.45%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 1.51% and United Parcel Service (UPS) at -2.65% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 7.99% and United Parcel Service (UPS) at -2.81% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricCNIUPS
Revenue Growth (YoY)1.51%-2.65%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)0.38%-4.04%
EPS Growth (YoY)7.99%-2.81%
EPS Growth (3Y 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
1.59
Median
1.12
Q1
0.78
CNI
0.67
Min
0.30

UPS

Transportation industry group

1.21

Max
2.26
Q3
1.59
UPS
1.21
Median
1.12
Q1
0.78
Min
0.30
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Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (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
1.62
CNI
1.06
Median
0.84
Q1
0.36
Min
0.00

UPS

Transportation industry group

1.82

Max
3.37
UPS
1.82
Q3
1.62
Median
0.84
Q1
0.36
Min
0.00
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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 Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricCNIUPS
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.671.21
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.061.82
Net Debt / EBITDA2.451.93

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 2.82% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; United Parcel Service (UPS) at 5.80% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.

CNI

Transportation industry group

2.82%

Max
4.23%
CNI
2.82%
Q3
1.79%
Median
0.55%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UPS

Transportation industry group

5.80%

UPS
5.80%
Max
4.23%
Q3
1.79%
Median
0.55%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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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
44.94%
Median
20.02%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UPS

Transportation industry group

106.15%

UPS
106.15%
Max
106.15%
Q3
44.94%
Median
20.02%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricCNIUPS
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.82%5.80%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)47.13%106.15%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 23.71 and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 18.32 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

23.71

Max
94.71
Q3
46.51
CNI
23.71
Median
23.58
Q1
14.12
Min
1.16

UPS

Transportation industry group

18.32

Max
94.71
Q3
46.51
Median
23.58
UPS
18.32
Q1
14.12
Min
1.16
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Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

United Parcel Service (UPS) at 1.12 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 4.46 sits in the pricier quartile — CNI costs more per dollar of sales.

CNI

Transportation industry group

4.46

CNI
4.46
Max
4.46
Q3
2.30
Median
1.35
Q1
0.62
Min
0.07

UPS

Transportation industry group

1.12

Max
4.46
Q3
2.30
Median
1.35
UPS
1.12
Q1
0.62
Min
0.07
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Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both Canadian National Railway (CNI) at 5.06 and United Parcel Service (UPS) at 6.09 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

CNI

Transportation industry group

5.06

Max
9.10
CNI
5.06
Q3
4.59
Median
2.21
Q1
1.23
Min
-2.48

UPS

Transportation industry group

6.09

Max
9.10
UPS
6.09
Q3
4.59
Median
2.21
Q1
1.23
Min
-2.48
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Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs. United Parcel Service (UPS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Canadian National Railway (CNI) and United Parcel Service (UPS)
MetricCNIUPS
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.7118.32
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.461.12
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.066.09
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.37%4.68%