Is CNI or URI cheaper?

On trailing earnings, CNI is cheaper: CNI trades at a 21.88 P/E and URI at 28.72.

Which has grown faster, CNI or URI?

Over the past five years, URI grew revenue faster — CNI at a 3.41% CAGR versus URI at 14.10%.

Does CNI or URI pay a bigger dividend?

CNI yields 2.17% and URI yields 0.70% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is CNI or URI more profitable?

CNI runs the higher net margin — CNI at 27.22% versus URI at 15.32%.

Which has been the better investment, CNI or URI?

Over the past 10-year, URI delivered the higher annualized total return — CNI at 9.87% versus URI at 33.17%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Canadian National Railway Company (CNI) vs United Rentals, Inc. (URI)

CNI leads on 9 of 17 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Canadian National Railway Company and United Rentals, Inc. 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 URI

growth of $100 · last 29y

CNI +2921.6%URI +7377.7%URI compounded faster

CNI URI

CNI vs URI: by the numbers

•CNI is the larger company ($73.13B vs $70.27B market cap).
•CNI trades at the lower earnings multiple (21.88 vs 28.72 P/E).
•CNI converts more revenue to profit (27.22% vs 15.32% net margin).
•URI grew revenue faster over the past five years (14.10% vs 3.41% CAGR).
•CNI pays the higher dividend yield (2.17% vs 0.70%).

Which is better, CNI or URI?

Metric tally: CNI 9 · URI 8

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueCNI(lower P/E)

GrowthURI(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeCNI(higher dividend yield)

QualityURI(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	CNI	URI
P/E ratio	21.88●	28.72
Forward P/E	13.78●	23.88
P/S ratio	5.88	4.36●
P/B ratio	4.77●	7.95
PEG ratio	2.29	1.11●
EV / EBITDA	14.61	13.25●
FCF yield	3.51%●	0.93%

Profitability

Metric	CNI	URI
Gross margin	44.21%●	36.25%
Operating margin	37.76%●	24.67%
Net margin	27.22%●	15.32%
ROE	22.07%	27.95%●
ROIC	8.90%	10.75%●

Dividends

Metric	CNI	URI
Dividend yield	2.17%●	0.70%
Payout ratio	47.56%	20.36%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	CNI	URI
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	3.41%	14.10%●
EPS CAGR (5Y)	6.99%	25.88%●
FCF CAGR (5Y)	0.73%●	-15.74%
Total return CAGR (5Y)	4.67%	30.02%●

Frequently asked

Which is better, CNI or URI?: It depends on your goal. value: CNI (lower P/E); growth: URI (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: CNI (higher dividend yield); quality: URI (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, CNI leads 9 to 8.
Is CNI or URI cheaper?: On trailing earnings, CNI is cheaper: CNI trades at a 21.88 P/E and URI at 28.72.
Which has grown faster, CNI or URI?: Over the past five years, URI grew revenue faster — CNI at a 3.41% CAGR versus URI at 14.10%.
Does CNI or URI pay a bigger dividend?: CNI yields 2.17% and URI yields 0.70% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is CNI or URI more profitable?: CNI runs the higher net margin — CNI at 27.22% versus URI at 15.32%.
Which has been the better investment, CNI or URI?: Over the past 10-year, URI delivered the higher annualized total return — CNI at 9.87% versus URI at 33.17%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full CNI analysis Full URI analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

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

Canadian National Railway & United Rentals 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.