NSC vs. CNI
NSC (Norfolk Southern Corporation) and CNI (Canadian National Railway Company) are both stocks. Both operate in the Railroads industry within the Industrials sector. Over the past 10 years, NSC returned 16.24%/yr vs 9.38%/yr for CNI. A 0.58 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
NSC vs. CNI - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NSC achieves a 6.00% return, which is significantly lower than CNI's 17.61% return. Over the past 10 years, NSC has outperformed CNI with an annualized return of 16.24%, while CNI has yielded a comparatively lower 9.38% annualized return.
NSC
- 1D
- -0.26%
- 1M
- -3.54%
- YTD
- 6.00%
- 6M
- 4.85%
- 1Y
- 20.44%
- 3Y*
- 14.11%
- 5Y*
- 4.93%
- 10Y*
- 16.24%
CNI
- 1D
- 0.67%
- 1M
- 1.13%
- YTD
- 17.61%
- 6M
- 17.72%
- 1Y
- 15.17%
- 3Y*
- 1.46%
- 5Y*
- 3.68%
- 10Y*
- 9.38%
NSC vs. CNI - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NSC Norfolk Southern Corporation | 6.00% | 25.65% | 1.55% | -1.63% | -15.59% | 27.26% | 24.76% | 32.39% | 5.22% | 36.85% |
CNI Canadian National Railway Company | 17.61% | -0.10% | -17.51% | 7.84% | -1.86% | 13.70% | 23.66% | 24.26% | -8.49% | 25.03% |
Correlation
The correlation between NSC and CNI is 0.47, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.47 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.55 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.60 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.60 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 26, 1996 | 0.58 |
The correlation between NSC and CNI shifts across timeframes, from 0.47 (1 year) to 0.60 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
NSC:
$15.83
CNI:
CA$7.60
NSC:
19.16
CNI:
21.42
NSC:
4.20
CNI:
5.83
NSC:
$12.19B
CNI:
CA$17.29B
NSC:
$6.23B
CNI:
CA$7.64B
NSC:
$5.20B
CNI:
CA$8.60B
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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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| NSC | CNI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.33 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.55 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.14 | +0.07 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.65 | 1.08 | +0.57 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.77 | 1.98 | +2.80 |
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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.
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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 | -12.47% | -14.15% | +1.68% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -25.11% | -29.14% | +4.03% |
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 | -6.84% | -8.78% | +1.94% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -15.13% | -9.49% | -5.64% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.29% | 7.69% | -3.40% |
Volatility
NSC vs. CNI - Volatility Comparison
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) has a higher volatility of 8.20% compared to Canadian National Railway Company (CNI) at 5.36%. This indicates that NSC's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than CNI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| NSC | CNI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.20% | 5.36% | +2.84% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 16.25% | 17.48% | -1.23% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 20.03% | 21.95% | -1.92% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 25.09% | 22.41% | +2.68% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 27.51% | 22.66% | +4.85% |
Dividends
NSC vs. CNI - Dividend Comparison
NSC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.78%, less than CNI's 2.27% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CNI Canadian National Railway Company | 2.27% | 2.58% | 2.43% | 1.85% | 1.41% | 1.61% | 1.59% | 1.79% | 2.01% | 2.00% | 2.23% | 2.24% |
NSC Norfolk Southern Corporation | 1.78% | 1.87% | 2.30% | 2.28% | 2.01% | 1.40% | 1.58% | 1.85% | 2.03% | 1.68% | 2.18% | 2.79% |
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 Jun 2026, Norfolk Southern Corporation reported a gross profit of 2.00B and revenue of 3.00B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 66.8%.
CNI - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Canadian National Railway Company reported a gross profit of 1.88B and revenue of 4.39B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 42.8%.
NSC - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Norfolk Southern Corporation reported an operating income of 877.00M and revenue of 3.00B, resulting in an operating margin of 29.3%.
CNI - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Canadian National Railway Company reported an operating income of 1.55B and revenue of 4.39B, resulting in an operating margin of 35.4%.
NSC - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Norfolk Southern Corporation reported a net income of 547.00M and revenue of 3.00B, resulting in a net margin of 18.3%.
CNI - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Canadian National Railway Company reported a net income of 1.15B and revenue of 4.39B, resulting in a net margin of 26.2%.
Frequently Asked Questions
NSC and CNI have a correlation of 0.47, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NSC has higher volatility (8.20%) compared to CNI (5.36%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NSC dropped -67.74% vs CNI's -46.66%.
NSC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.03 vs 0.69), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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