Is CNI or CTAS cheaper?

On trailing earnings, CNI is cheaper: CNI trades at a 21.88 P/E and CTAS at 36.27.

Which has grown faster, CNI or CTAS?

Over the past five years, CTAS grew revenue faster — CNI at a 3.41% CAGR versus CTAS at 9.83%.

Does CNI or CTAS pay a bigger dividend?

CNI yields 2.17% and CTAS yields 1.05% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is CNI or CTAS more profitable?

CNI runs the higher net margin — CNI at 27.22% versus CTAS at 17.57%.

Which has been the better investment, CNI or CTAS?

Over the past 10-year, CTAS delivered the higher annualized total return — CNI at 9.87% versus CTAS at 23.39%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Canadian National Railway Company (CNI) vs Cintas Corporation (CTAS)

CNI leads on 10 of 17 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Canadian National Railway Company and Cintas Corporation across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 28, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

CNI

Canadian National Railway Company

Total return — CNI vs CTAS

growth of $100 · last 30y

CNI +3655.8%CTAS +3225.0%CNI compounded faster

CNI CTAS

CNI vs CTAS: by the numbers

•CNI is the larger company ($73.13B vs $68.78B market cap).
•CNI trades at the lower earnings multiple (21.88 vs 36.27 P/E).
•CNI converts more revenue to profit (27.22% vs 17.57% net margin).
•CTAS grew revenue faster over the past five years (9.83% vs 3.41% CAGR).
•CNI pays the higher dividend yield (2.17% vs 1.05%).

Which is better, CNI or CTAS?

Metric tally: CNI 10 · CTAS 7

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueCNI(lower P/E)

GrowthCTAS(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeCNI(higher dividend yield)

QualityCTAS(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	CNI	CTAS
P/E ratio	21.88●	36.27
Forward P/E	13.78●	31.62
P/S ratio	5.88●	6.34
P/B ratio	4.77●	14.61
PEG ratio	2.29●	3.09
EV / EBITDA	14.61●	23.94
FCF yield	3.51%●	2.56%

Profitability

Metric	CNI	CTAS
Gross margin	44.21%	50.36%●
Operating margin	37.76%●	22.95%
Net margin	27.22%●	17.57%
ROE	22.07%	40.46%●
ROIC	8.90%	22.95%●

Dividends

Metric	CNI	CTAS
Dividend yield	2.17%●	1.05%
Payout ratio	47.56%	40.18%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	CNI	CTAS
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	3.41%	9.83%●
EPS CAGR (5Y)	6.99%	16.48%●
FCF CAGR (5Y)	0.73%	9.81%●
Total return CAGR (5Y)	4.67%	13.74%●

Frequently asked

Which is better, CNI or CTAS?: It depends on your goal. value: CNI (lower P/E); growth: CTAS (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: CNI (higher dividend yield); quality: CTAS (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, CNI leads 10 to 7.
Is CNI or CTAS cheaper?: On trailing earnings, CNI is cheaper: CNI trades at a 21.88 P/E and CTAS at 36.27.
Which has grown faster, CNI or CTAS?: Over the past five years, CTAS grew revenue faster — CNI at a 3.41% CAGR versus CTAS at 9.83%.
Does CNI or CTAS pay a bigger dividend?: CNI yields 2.17% and CTAS yields 1.05% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is CNI or CTAS more profitable?: CNI runs the higher net margin — CNI at 27.22% versus CTAS at 17.57%.
Which has been the better investment, CNI or CTAS?: Over the past 10-year, CTAS delivered the higher annualized total return — CNI at 9.87% versus CTAS at 23.39%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full CNI analysis Full CTAS analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

Canadian National Railway P/E ratio Cintas P/E ratio Canadian National Railway dividend yield Cintas dividend yield Canadian National Railway ROE Cintas ROE Canadian National Railway operating margin Cintas operating margin Canadian National Railway revenue growth Cintas revenue growth Canadian National Railway free cash flow Cintas free cash flow

Canadian National Railway & Cintas appear in these rankings

Highest Dividend Yield Stocks Dividend Aristocrats Highest ROE Stocks Highest ROIC Stocks

Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 28, 2026.