Norfolk Southern [NSC] vs Canadian National [CNI] Detailed Stock Comparison
TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary
Based on 21 vital metrics comparison: Norfolk Southern Corporation wins in 5 metrics, Canadian National Railway Company wins in 15 metrics, with 0 ties. Canadian National Railway Company appears stronger overall.
View Metrics Details
Vital Metrics Comparison
| Metric | Norfolk Southern Corporation | Canadian National Railway Company | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 23.70 | 20.59 | Canadian National Railway Company |
| Price-to-Book Ratio | 4.36 | 4.45 | Norfolk Southern Corporation |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio | 114.74 | 100.29 | Canadian National Railway Company |
| PEG Ratio | -2.08 | 1.78 | Canadian National Railway Company |
| EV/EBITDA | 15.04 | 10.04 | Canadian National Railway Company |
| Profit Margin (TTM) | 23.59% | 27.28% | Canadian National Railway Company |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 31.17% | 42.41% | Canadian National Railway Company |
| EBITDA Margin (TTM) | 31.17% | 42.41% | Canadian National Railway Company |
| Return on Equity | 19.25% | 22.15% | Canadian National Railway Company |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 5.91% | 7.70% | Canadian National Railway Company |
| Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $2.16B | $3.39B | Canadian National Railway Company |
| Dividend Yield | 1.76% | 1.84% | Canadian National Railway Company |
| 1-Year Return | 26.27% | 14.66% | Norfolk Southern Corporation |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 5.57 | 4.03 | Canadian National Railway Company |
| Enterprise Value | $84.18B | $66.56B | Norfolk Southern Corporation |
| EV/Revenue Ratio | 6.91 | 5.26 | Canadian National Railway Company |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 32.58% | 43.93% | Canadian National Railway Company |
| Revenue per Share (TTM) | $54 | $28 | Norfolk Southern Corporation |
| Earnings per Share (Diluted) | $12.75 | $5.54 | Norfolk Southern Corporation |
| Beta (Stock Volatility) | 1.31 | 0.96 | Canadian National Railway Company |
| Short % of Float | 3.77% | N/A | N/A |
Norfolk Southern Corporation vs Canadian National Railway Company Stock Performance Analysis
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Performance Comparison
Short-term Returns
| Stock | 1D | 1W | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk Southern Corporation | -1.16% | 0.11% | -1.79% | 6.74% | 3.60% | 7.80% |
| Canadian National Railway Company | 0.63% | 3.72% | 12.30% | 16.99% | 32.76% | 28.64% |
Long-term Returns
| Stock | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | 15Y | 20Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk Southern Corporation | 26.27% | 40.05% | 20.07% | 268.48% | 342.31% | 522.59% |
| Canadian National Railway Company | 14.66% | 0.03% | 13.66% | 103.77% | 215.43% | 464.96% |
Performance & Financial Health Analysis: Norfolk Southern Corporation vs Canadian National Railway Company
| Metric | NSC | CNI |
|---|---|---|
| Market Information | ||
| Market Cap | $72.19B | $69.82B |
| Market Cap Category | Large cap | Large cap |
| 10 Day Avg. Volume | 1,338,887 | 1,164,576 |
| 90 Day Avg. Volume | 1,337,079 | 1,479,359 |
| Last Close | $310.28 | $129.03 |
| 52 Week Range | $248.82 - $326.00 | $90.74 - $129.53 |
| % from 52W High | -4.82% | -0.39% |
| All-Time High | $326.00 (May 27, 2026) | $137.19 (Mar 28, 2022) |
| % from All-Time High | -4.82% | -5.95% |
| Growth Metrics | ||
| Quarterly Revenue Growth | -0.02% | 0.02% |
| Quarterly Earnings Growth | -0.12% | 0.09% |
| Financial Health | ||
| Profit Margin (TTM) | 0.24% | 0.27% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 0.31% | 0.42% |
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 0.19% | 0.22% |
| Debt to Equity (MRQ) | 114.74 | 100.29 |
| Cash & Liquidity | ||
| Book Value per Share (MRQ) | $69.28 | $25.66 |
| Cash per Share (MRQ) | $6.81 | $0.57 |
| Operating Cash Flow (TTM) | $4.36B | $5.16B |
| Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $1.45B | $1.74B |
| Dividends | ||
| Last 12-Month Dividend Yield | 1.76% | 1.84% |
| Last 12-Month Dividend | $5.40 | $1.96 |
Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: Norfolk Southern Corporation vs Canadian National Railway Company
| Metric | NSC (Apr 24, 2026) | CNI (Apr 24, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Price Ratios | ||
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 23.70 | 20.59 |
| Forward P/E | 22.56 | 17.77 |
| PEG Ratio | -2.08 | 1.78 |
| Price to Sales (TTM) | 5.57 | 4.03 |
| Price to Book (MRQ) | 4.36 | 4.45 |
| Market Capitalization | ||
| Market Capitalization | $72.19B | $69.82B |
| Enterprise Value | $84.18B | $66.56B |
| Enterprise Value Metrics | ||
| Enterprise to Revenue | 6.91 | 5.26 |
| Enterprise to EBITDA | 15.04 | 10.04 |
| Risk & Other Metrics | ||
| Beta | 1.31 | 0.96 |
| Book Value per Share (MRQ) | $69.28 | $25.66 |
Financial Statements Comparison: Norfolk Southern Corporation vs Canadian National Railway Company
Financial Metrics
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Revenue
Operating Margin
Profit Margin
Long Term Debt
Income Flow Analysis
Financial Statements Comparison
Income Statement
| Metric | NSC (2025) | CNI (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue/Sales | 12.18B | 17.30B |
| Cost of Goods Sold | 7.75B | 9.97B |
| COGS % of Revenue | 63.7% | 57.6% |
| Gross Profit | 4.43B | 7.33B |
| Gross Margin | 36.3% | 42.4% |
| Research & Development | N/A | N/A |
| Operating Income (EBIT) | 4.57B | 6.59B |
| Operating Margin | 37.5% | 38.1% |
| EBITDA | 5.96B | 9.04B |
| EBITDA Margin | 48.9% | 52.2% |
| Pre-Tax Income | 3.67B | 6.26B |
| Pre-Tax Income % of Revenue | 30.1% | 36.2% |
| Income Tax | 792.00M | 1.54B |
| Income Tax % of Revenue | 6.5% | 8.9% |
| Net Income (Profit) | 2.87B | 4.72B |
| Profit Margin | 23.6% | 27.3% |
Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics
| Metric | NSC (2025) | CNI (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Cash & Equivalents | 1.53B | 350.00M |
| Total Current Assets | 3.20B | 2.47B |
| Total Current Assets % of Revenue | 26.3% | 14.3% |
| Total Current Liabilities | 3.78B | 3.70B |
| Total Current Liabilities % of Revenue | 31.0% | 21.4% |
| Long-Term Debt | 16.63B | 20.62B |
| Long-Term Debt % of Revenue | 136.5% | 119.1% |
| Total Shareholders Equity | 15.55B | 21.57B |
| Retained Earnings | 13.24B | 18.92B |
| Retained Earnings % of Revenue | 108.7% | 109.3% |
| Property, Plant & Equipment | 11.50B | 62.25B |
Cash Flow Statement Comparison
| Metric | NSC (2025) | CNI (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash Flow | 4.61B | 7.46B |
| Operating Cash Flow % of Revenue | 37.9% | 43.1% |
| Capital Expenditures | -2.04B | -3.66B |
| Free Cash Flow | 2.16B | 3.39B |
| FCF Margin | 17.7% | 19.6% |
| Debt Repayment | -559.00M | -26.53B |
| Common Stock Repurchase | -534.00M | -2.12B |
Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis
| Metric | NSC | CNI |
|---|---|---|
| Shares Short | 8.47M | 5.24M |
| Short Ratio | 6.54 | 1.15 |
| Short % of Float | 3.77% | N/A |
| Shares Outstanding | 224.42M | 613.33M |
| Float Shares | 224.20M | 594.37M |
| % Held by Insiders | 0.08% | 2.67% |
| % Held by Institutions | 78.52% | 75.29% |
| % Held by Public | 21.40% | 22.04% |
Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: Norfolk Southern Corporation vs Canadian National Railway Company
| Metric | NSC | CNI |
|---|---|---|
| Last 12-Month Dividend | $5.40 | $1.96 |
| Last 12-Month Dividend Yield | 1.76% | 1.84% |
| 3-Year Avg Annual Dividend | $5.40 | $2.27 |
| 3-Year Avg Dividend Yield | 0.55% | 0.57% |
| 3-Year Total Dividends | $16.20 | $6.80 |
| Ex-Dividend Date | Feb 06, 2026 | Mar 10, 2026 |