TSE:CNR

Canadian National R.R. (CNR.TO)

168.35
-0.96 (0.57%)
as of Sep 9, 2026, 8:00:00 pm Market Open.
1168 watching
0
Investor Insights
star iconSep 9, 2026, 12:00 am

This summary was created by AI, based on 31 opinions in the last 12 months.

Canadian National R.R. (CNR) is viewed as a high-quality transportation business with strong fundamentals, evident from revenue increases and raised earnings outlook, although it faces challenges from competition, trade uncertainties, and economic cycles. Experts highlight a mixed outlook, with a preference for patience as recovery in freight volumes and GDP growth is anticipated, despite experiencing a freight recession lasting several years. Some analysts express concern over CNR's reduced guidance and external trade pressures, while others view it as an attractive long-term investment due to its irreplaceable network and historical resilience. Valuations have contracted, making it appealing for new investments at current levels, especially given its dividend yield and buyback history, despite volatile market conditions influenced by geopolitical events and economic shifts.

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Consensus
Mixed
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Valuation
Undervalued
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Similar
CP
BUY ON WEAKNESS
Great businesses however, thinks that railroad stocks (CP & CN) are overvalued. Growth outlooks don't justify valuations. Wait to buy on a pullback. Free cash flow yields are too low low (~3.5%) 20x earnings an attractive point of entry.
BUY
CNR vs. CP You can probably buy CP here, hold it for the long term, make pretty good money, and outperform the TSX. He aims to buy the best opportunity in each sector, so he owns CNR. BC flooding will impact earnings of both, but not a long-term issue. KSU merger with CP is this week, likely to be approved, but a challenge integrating this sizeable acquisition. Opportunity is better in CNR.
COMMENT
CNR is probably the better buy right now. Likes CP but it is trading at 20x which is expensive. CNR has a better price to growth level.
COMMENT
Owns CN Rail and is happy with the share price recovering lately. The play book has been to invest in railroads facing activist pressure. Feels that there will be big changes in CNR soon. CP is also good. Positive on railroads. Lots of upside potential in CNR.
HOLD
Operational gains have seen diminishing returns. Multiple expansion has kept the stock going. Does the multiple expansion continue, are there more operational efficiencies? Both are ambiguous. That's why they tried to acquire KCU. Slowdown in durable goods, fuel cost inflation, labour price inflation. Economy may slow in the next 12-18 months. Great long-term company. If you own don't sell, but he wouldn't buy here.
HOLD
Historically the most efficient. Likes railways as a whole, the backbone of the countries. Expansion caused issues such as operating ratio increasing, which is bad. Shareholder pressure has forced them to state goals for improvement. This should play out positively in the next couple of years.
COMMENT
CN vs. CP He sold CNR earlier this year over high valuation. Both enjoy an oligopoly. Another concern is growth for both rails. Exit when the PE gets too stretch. Both were so desperate for growth that they battled over KSU. He prefers CP, though both are well run, though both PEs are rich. He'd add to CP on a pullback.
WATCH
In a maelstrom of a big investor wanting to remove the CEO and the board. Performance of the company has been dreadful so he agrees. They had pricing power, get lowest costs and best railroad efficiency ratios with a rising dividend. This has not been happening in the last few years. There is no reason for drop in cash flow, higher operating prices, etc because it is in an oligopoly.
BUY
CP vs. CN CP is in the process of buying KSU, beating out CN last month. CN is the better rail with better assets than CP. Facing an activist shareholder, CN just announced $700 million in cost savings to return to their industry-leading operating ratio. CP's issue is that it has a weaker network, but will be boosted if they absorb KSU. He's not sure it's a slam dunk that CP will win KSU, because the US federal commission may balk. If it does happen, CP will take on a lot of leverage and integration risk that will distract them in their core business that cold let CN take away some of that market share.
HOLD
CNR vs. CP Rail industry is a great area to be in. Limited competition, strong barriers to entry, environmentally friendly, pricing power, got rid of non-core assets. Continue to own them, even on the dips. As the economy gets better, they'll do well. The KSU deal will make CP more competitive with CNR. Two of the best companies in the sector in NA. Own one or both.
BUY
CNR vs. CP The takeover was a real love triangle. He's confident CP will get approval. You want to buy them into this weakness. 9% growth rate, 17.5x 2023 earnings. Will be a better entity going forward. CNR looks very good with their new strategy to better their OR over time. Both are to be owned at this point.
DON'T BUY
CP vs. CP Don't chase CN now. There's a bidding war by CN and CP for KSU. KS is talking to CP and he expects CP to win the war. He prefers CP. He's short CP, because he's long KSU. CP looks good in terms of earnings.
BUY

CN vs. CP It's surging today. Rails are good--they are the economy. CN is more of a commodity shipper and commodities are in demand. Both CN and CP will be hit by the weak grain harvest from lack of rain. He hopes CN wins the battle for KSU. (Didn't comment much on CP.) There is integration risk in buying KSU and they will need to borrow money to close the deal, but this is a short-term problem and it's worth building a network to Mexico.

COMMENT

CP today increased their offer to buy Kansas City Southern He owns none of the rails here, but owns FedEx and has long liked it and its management. This battle will go on for a while. Even if CP wins, it'll likely be a year before the deal closes, and CP will be worth $90 billion, on par with rival bidder CN. CN will still have bigger revenues than CP, while CP will carry more debt if CP wins the battle. So, CP would win the battle, but lose the war. It'll be interesting to see how much synergy CP can generate if CP wins. The short-term winner will be KCS shareholders.

BUY

CN vs. CP Easy. Go with CN. Latest news is a letter saying that the merger with KSU is not in the public interest. If the merger happens, it will be accretive long-term. If not, CN remains attractive, trading at 18x 2023 earnings while growing at 11%. At times, he's a CP guy, but here he'd pick CNR. [Note: some audio problems]

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