Is CNI or NOC cheaper?

On trailing earnings, NOC is cheaper: CNI trades at a 21.88 P/E and NOC at 15.65.

Which has grown faster, CNI or NOC?

Over the past five years, CNI grew revenue faster — CNI at a 3.41% CAGR versus NOC at 2.56%.

Does CNI or NOC pay a bigger dividend?

CNI yields 2.17% and NOC yields 1.98% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is CNI or NOC more profitable?

CNI runs the higher net margin — CNI at 27.22% versus NOC at 10.80%.

Which has been the better investment, CNI or NOC?

Over the past 10-year, NOC delivered the higher annualized total return — CNI at 9.87% versus NOC at 10.68%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Canadian National Railway Company (CNI) vs Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC)

NOC leads on 9 of 17 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Canadian National Railway Company and Northrop Grumman 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

$73.13B

$120.56Industrials

NOC

Northrop Grumman Corporation

$71.02B

$500.03Industrials

Total return — CNI vs NOC

growth of $100 · last 30y

CNI +3655.8%NOC +1224.2%CNI compounded faster

CNI NOC

CNI vs NOC: by the numbers

•CNI is the larger company ($73.13B vs $71.02B market cap).
•NOC trades at the lower earnings multiple (15.65 vs 21.88 P/E).
•CNI converts more revenue to profit (27.22% vs 10.80% net margin).
•CNI grew revenue faster over the past five years (3.41% vs 2.56% CAGR).
•CNI pays the higher dividend yield (2.17% vs 1.98%).

Which is better, CNI or NOC?

Metric tally: CNI 8 · NOC 9

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueNOC(lower P/E)

GrowthCNI(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeCNI(higher dividend yield)

QualityNOC(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	CNI	NOC
P/E ratio	21.88	15.65●
Forward P/E	13.78●	16.59
P/S ratio	5.88	1.68●
P/B ratio	4.77	4.16●
PEG ratio	2.29●	7.41
EV / EBITDA	14.61	13.90●
FCF yield	3.51%	4.64%●

Profitability

Metric	CNI	NOC
Gross margin	44.21%●	20.52%
Operating margin	37.76%●	11.08%
Net margin	27.22%●	10.80%
ROE	22.07%	26.74%●
ROIC	8.90%	9.21%●

Dividends

Metric	CNI	NOC
Dividend yield	2.17%●	1.98%
Payout ratio	47.56%	33.91%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	CNI	NOC
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	3.41%●	2.56%
EPS CAGR (5Y)	6.99%	8.84%●
FCF CAGR (5Y)	0.73%●	-3.15%
Total return CAGR (5Y)	4.67%	7.75%●

Frequently asked

Which is better, CNI or NOC?: It depends on your goal. value: NOC (lower P/E); growth: CNI (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: CNI (higher dividend yield); quality: NOC (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, NOC leads 9 to 8.
Is CNI or NOC cheaper?: On trailing earnings, NOC is cheaper: CNI trades at a 21.88 P/E and NOC at 15.65.
Which has grown faster, CNI or NOC?: Over the past five years, CNI grew revenue faster — CNI at a 3.41% CAGR versus NOC at 2.56%.
Does CNI or NOC pay a bigger dividend?: CNI yields 2.17% and NOC yields 1.98% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is CNI or NOC more profitable?: CNI runs the higher net margin — CNI at 27.22% versus NOC at 10.80%.
Which has been the better investment, CNI or NOC?: Over the past 10-year, NOC delivered the higher annualized total return — CNI at 9.87% versus NOC at 10.68%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full CNI analysis Full NOC analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

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

Canadian National Railway & Northrop Grumman appear in these rankings

Highest Dividend Yield Stocks Dividend Aristocrats Highest ROE Stocks Highest Operating Margin 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.