NSC vs. CNI
Compare and contrast key facts about Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) and Canadian National Railway Company (CNI).
Performance
NSC vs. CNI - Performance Comparison
Loading graphics...
NSC vs. CNI - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NSC Norfolk Southern Corporation | -0.16% | 25.65% | 1.55% | -1.63% | -15.59% | 27.26% | 24.76% | 32.39% | 5.22% | 36.85% |
CNI Canadian National Railway Company | 4.62% | -0.10% | -17.51% | 7.84% | -1.86% | 13.70% | 23.66% | 24.26% | -8.49% | 25.03% |
Fundamentals
NSC:
$64.52B
CNI:
$63.31B
NSC:
$12.78
CNI:
$7.59
NSC:
22.46
CNI:
13.55
NSC:
5.30
CNI:
3.69
NSC:
4.15
CNI:
2.94
NSC:
$12.18B
CNI:
$17.31B
NSC:
$5.17B
CNI:
$7.54B
NSC:
$5.85B
CNI:
$8.82B
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NSC achieves a -0.16% return, which is significantly lower than CNI's 4.62% return. Over the past 10 years, NSC has outperformed CNI with an annualized return of 15.58%, while CNI has yielded a comparatively lower 7.22% annualized return.
NSC
- 1D
- 1.65%
- 1M
- -8.81%
- YTD
- -0.16%
- 6M
- -3.58%
- 1Y
- 23.64%
- 3Y*
- 13.15%
- 5Y*
- 3.27%
- 10Y*
- 15.58%
CNI
- 1D
- 1.42%
- 1M
- -7.82%
- YTD
- 4.62%
- 6M
- 10.39%
- 1Y
- 8.19%
- 3Y*
- -2.31%
- 5Y*
- -0.74%
- 10Y*
- 7.22%
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
NSC vs. CNI — Risk / Return Rank
NSC
CNI
NSC vs. CNI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) and Canadian National Railway Company (CNI). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| NSC | CNI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.06 | 0.36 | +0.70 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.61 | 0.68 | +0.93 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.22 | 1.08 | +0.14 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.00 | 0.55 | +1.45 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.08 | 1.00 | +5.08 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading graphics...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| NSC | CNI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.06 | 0.36 | +0.70 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.13 | -0.03 | +0.17 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.57 | 0.32 | +0.24 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.42 | 0.57 | -0.15 |
Correlation
The correlation between NSC and CNI is 0.58, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Dividends
NSC vs. CNI - Dividend Comparison
NSC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.88%, less than CNI's 2.53% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NSC Norfolk Southern Corporation | 1.88% | 1.87% | 2.30% | 2.28% | 2.01% | 1.40% | 1.58% | 1.85% | 2.03% | 1.68% | 2.18% | 2.79% |
CNI Canadian National Railway Company | 2.53% | 2.58% | 2.43% | 1.85% | 1.41% | 1.61% | 1.59% | 1.79% | 2.01% | 2.00% | 2.23% | 2.24% |
Drawdowns
NSC vs. CNI - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NSC drawdown since its inception was -67.74%, which is greater than CNI's maximum drawdown of -46.66%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NSC and CNI.
Loading graphics...
Drawdown Indicators
| NSC | CNI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -67.74% | -46.66% | -21.08% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.51% | -14.84% | +1.33% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -35.64% | -29.14% | -6.50% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -44.42% | -29.15% | -15.27% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.70% | -18.86% | +9.16% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -15.19% | -9.49% | -5.70% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.44% | 8.20% | -3.76% |
Volatility
NSC vs. CNI - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) is 5.69%, while Canadian National Railway Company (CNI) has a volatility of 6.96%. This indicates that NSC experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than CNI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading graphics...
Volatility by Period
| NSC | CNI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.69% | 6.96% | -1.27% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.49% | 15.97% | -3.48% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.63% | 22.96% | -0.33% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.71% | 22.39% | +2.32% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 27.64% | 22.61% | +5.03% |
Financials
NSC vs. CNI - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Norfolk Southern Corporation and Canadian National Railway Company. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
NSC vs. CNI - Profitability Comparison
NSC - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, Norfolk Southern Corporation reported a gross profit of 2.10B and revenue of 2.97B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 70.5%.
CNI - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, Canadian National Railway Company reported a gross profit of 2.07B and revenue of 4.46B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 46.3%.
NSC - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, Norfolk Southern Corporation reported an operating income of 937.00M and revenue of 2.97B, resulting in an operating margin of 31.5%.
CNI - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, Canadian National Railway Company reported an operating income of 1.73B and revenue of 4.46B, resulting in an operating margin of 38.8%.
NSC - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, Norfolk Southern Corporation reported a net income of 644.00M and revenue of 2.97B, resulting in a net margin of 21.7%.
CNI - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, Canadian National Railway Company reported a net income of 1.25B and revenue of 4.46B, resulting in a net margin of 28.0%.