Canadian National Railway (CNI) vs Norfolk Southern (NSC)
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 Norfolk Southern (NSC) over the past year, gaining 21.3% versus a gain of 6.9%. Over five years, NSC leads with a +15.0% price change compared with -4.8% for CNI. Norfolk Southern is the larger company by market cap ($71.20 billion vs $70.58 billion), about 1.0 times the size.
On valuation, Canadian National Railway trades at a lower forward P/E (18.5x vs 22.2x for Norfolk Southern). Canadian National Railway offers the higher dividend yield (3.09% vs 1.70%).
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 | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $116.84 | $316.99 |
| Market cap | $70.58B | $71.20B |
| 1-day change | +0.94% | +1.21% |
| YTD return | +18.20% | +9.79% |
| 1-year return | +21.25% | +6.87% |
| 5-year return | -4.77% | +15.03% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 20.72 | 27.05 |
| Forward P/E | 18.55 | 22.18 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.64 | $11.72 |
| Dividend yield | 3.09% | 1.70% |
| Annual dividend | $3.61 | $5.40 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $12.18B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +0.47% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $2.87B |
| Operating margin | — | 35.76% |
| Net margin | — | 23.59% |
| 52-week high | $131.55 | $358.60 |
| 52-week low | $90.74 | $277.80 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -11.18% | -11.60% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +15.47% | +13.29% |
| Average volume | 1.40M | 1.12M |
| Shares outstanding | 604.10M | 224.61M |
| Employees | 23,825 | 19,300 |
| 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
- CNI has outperformed NSC by 14.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Norfolk Southern trades at a higher earnings multiple (27.0x vs 20.7x trailing P/E).
- Canadian National Railway offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.09% vs 1.70%).
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 Norfolk Southern
NSC stock →Norfolk Southern Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the rail transportation of raw materials, intermediate products, and finished goods in the United States. The company transports agriculture, forest, and consumer products comprising soybeans, wheat, corn, fertilizers, livestock and poultry feed, food products, food oils, flour, sweeteners, ethanol, lumber and wood products, pulp board and paper products, wood fibers, wood pulp, beverages, and canned goods; chemicals, including sulfur and related chemicals, petroleum products comprising crude oil, chlorine and bleaching compounds, plastics, rubber, industrial chemicals, chemical wastes, sand, and natural gas liquids; metals and construction materials, such as steel, aluminum products, machinery, scrap metals, cement, aggregates, minerals, clay, transportation equipment, and military-related products; and automotive, including finished motor vehicles and automotive parts, as well as coal.
Industrials · Railroads · 19,300 employees
CNI vs NSC FAQ
Which is bigger, Canadian National Railway or Norfolk Southern?
Norfolk Southern (NSC) is larger, with a market capitalization of $71.20B compared with $70.58B for Canadian National Railway (CNI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CNI or NSC?
CNI returned +21.25% over the past 12 months, compared with +6.87% for NSC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CNI or NSC?
CNI has the lower trailing P/E at 20.7, versus 27.0 for NSC. 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 Norfolk Southern?
Canadian National Railway has the higher yield at 3.09%, compared with 1.70% for Norfolk Southern.
Are Canadian National Railway and Norfolk Southern in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Railroads industry within the Industrials sector.