
TSE:CNR
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.
Owns both, core holdings. No one's building any more rails. Cheaper to ship commodities by rail than any other way. If an economic slowdown, traffic and volumes will slow down but it's still a pretty steady business.
If the trade war goes on, everything gets more expensive and these two will be impacted negatively. But these events are always temporary. Trade wars are not good for inflation or the economy with US mid-term elections only 2 years away. He's trusting that rational minds will prevail.
Good idea. Together, CP and CNR have a duopoloy within Canada plus operations in the US. Rails have not performed that well this past year. Company guiding to high-single to double-digit topline growth. Tariffs won't impact directly, but risk is that economic slowdown would affect volumes. Trading ~18x forward PE, and wide discount to CP.
Under $150 it's starting to get interesting. Can't go too wrong at these valuations, though a cheaper opportunity may arise in a recession.
Disconnect in terms of valuation and performance between CNR and CP is enticing. CP is trading a lot more expensively around 21-22x PE. Whereas CNR is trading more cheaply by comparison and by historical standards. Cyclical. Attractive dividend yield of over 2%.
Would buy on this pullback. It enjoys an oligopoly, but the economy softened more than the company expected this year. The strike was also a headwind. Operations are doing well. CNR forecast that the goods market would be in a recession this year and they were right, so their comps may improve going forward if demand increases.
As part of the CP/CNR oligopoly, it will always make money. Not even AI can make rails obsolete anytime soon. Very capital intensive -- operating costs, unionized workers, equipment. So FCF as percentage of revenue is not that amazing. Even with pullback today, still trades ~18-20x PE. Not overly expensive, but not cheap either.
Probably OK if you have a long-term view and want reasonable stability, grow as fast as the economy, get some efficiencies along the way, and collect the dividend. But it's not for him.