Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs Greenbrier Companies (GBX)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Canadian National Railway (CNI) has outperformed Greenbrier Companies (GBX) over the past year, gaining 21.3% versus a loss of 15.1%. Over five years, CNI leads with a -4.8% price change compared with -17.4% for GBX. Canadian National Railway is the larger company by market cap ($71.20 billion vs $1.19 billion), about 59.9 times the size.
On valuation, Greenbrier Companies trades at a lower forward P/E (10.3x vs 18.7x for Canadian National Railway). Greenbrier Companies offers the higher dividend yield (3.38% vs 3.06%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CNI | GBX |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $117.86 | $38.44 |
| Market cap | $71.20B | $1.19B |
| 1-day change | +0.87% | -0.49% |
| YTD return | +18.20% | -17.35% |
| 1-year return | +21.25% | -15.14% |
| 5-year return | -4.77% | -17.39% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 20.90 | 11.37 |
| Forward P/E | 18.71 | 10.25 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.64 | $3.38 |
| Dividend yield | 3.06% | 3.38% |
| Annual dividend | $3.61 | $1.30 |
| 52-week high | $131.55 | $59.19 |
| 52-week low | $90.74 | $37.61 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -10.41% | -35.06% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | underperform |
| Avg. price target upside | +14.47% | +17.92% |
| Average volume | 1.40M | 396.86K |
| Shares outstanding | 604.10M | 30.94M |
| Employees | 23,825 | 11,000 |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Railroads | Railroads |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Canadian National Railway is about 59.9 times larger than Greenbrier Companies by market value ($71.20B vs $1.19B).
- CNI has outperformed GBX by 36.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Canadian National Railway trades at a higher earnings multiple (20.9x vs 11.4x trailing P/E).
About Canadian National Railway
CNI stock →Canadian National Railway Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the rail, intermodal, trucking, and related transportation businesses in Canada and the United States. The company provides rail services, which include equipment, customs brokerage, transloading and warehousing, business development, dimensional loads, and private railcar storage, less-than-truckload, and mexico services; intermodal services, such as temperature controlled multimodal, mobile transport trays, port partnerships, transloading and distribution, logistics parks, trucking, and supply chain services.
Industrials · Railroads · 23,825 employees
About Greenbrier Companies
GBX stock →The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets railroad freight car equipment in North America, Europe, and South America.
Industrials · Railroads · 11,000 employees
CNI vs GBX FAQ
Which is bigger, Canadian National Railway or Greenbrier Companies?
Canadian National Railway (CNI) is larger, with a market capitalization of $71.20B compared with $1.19B for Greenbrier Companies (GBX).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CNI or GBX?
CNI returned +21.25% over the past 12 months, compared with -15.14% for GBX (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CNI or GBX?
GBX has the lower trailing P/E at 11.4, versus 20.9 for CNI. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Canadian National Railway or Greenbrier Companies?
Greenbrier Companies has the higher yield at 3.38%, compared with 3.06% for Canadian National Railway.
Are Canadian National Railway and Greenbrier Companies in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Railroads industry within the Industrials sector.