CP
Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd.
Railroads
Market Cap$76.49B
5Y Perf.+70.6%
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Stock Comparison
CP vs CSX
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CSX
CSX Corporation
Railroads
Market Cap$82.61B
5Y Perf.+86.3%
CP vs CSX — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CP | CSX |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Railroads | Railroads |
| Market Cap | $76.49B | $82.61B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $14.98B | $14.15B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $4.08B | $3.05B |
| Gross Margin | 47.9% | 37.5% |
| Operating Margin | 37.0% | 33.4% |
| Forward P/E | 22.6x | 23.4x |
| Total Debt | $23.19B | $19.35B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $184M | $670M |
CP vs CSX — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CP
CSX
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Pacific Ka… (CP) | 100 | 170.6 | +70.6% |
| CSX Corporation (CSX) | 100 | 186.3 | +86.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CP vs CSX
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CP leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. CSX Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for dividend income and shareholder returns and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CP
Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd.
The Growth Play
CP carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- Rev growth 3.7%, EPS growth 13.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 19.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.70, Low D/E 49.5%, current ratio 0.49x
- 3.7% revenue growth vs CSX's -3.1%
Best for: growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night
CSX
CSX Corporation
The Income Pick
CSX is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 21 yrs, beta 0.77, yield 1.2%
- 459.3% 10Y total return vs CP's 230.2%
- PEG 4.57 vs CP's 4.84
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CP | 3.7% revenue growth vs CSX's -3.1% |
| Value | CP | Lower P/E (22.6x vs 23.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | CP | 27.2% margin vs CSX's 21.6% |
| Stability / Safety | CP | Beta 0.70 vs CSX's 0.77, lower leverage |
| Dividends | CSX | 1.2% yield, 21-year raise streak, vs CP's 0.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CSX | +58.6% vs CP's +16.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CSX | 7.0% ROA vs CP's 5.5%, ROIC 10.9% vs 6.0% |
CP vs CSX — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
CP vs CSX — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCSXLAGGINGCP
CPCanadian Pacific Kans…
1leads
CSXCSX Corporation
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs CPMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CP6/7
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
CSX6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
CSX6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
CSX2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — CP and CSX each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CP and CSX operate at a comparable scale, with $15.0B and $14.2B in trailing revenue. CP is the more profitable business, keeping 27.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CSX's 21.6%. On growth, CSX holds the edge at +1.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CPCanadian Pacific … | CSXCSX Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $15.0B | $14.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $7.6B | $6.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $4.1B | $3.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.7B | $4.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +47.9% | +37.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +37.0% | +33.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +27.2% | +21.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +18.1% | +29.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -2.5% | +1.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.1% | +26.5% |
Evenly matched — CP and CSX each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
CP leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 25.8x trailing earnings, CP trades at a 11% valuation discount to CSX's 28.9x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), CP offers better value at 5.52x vs CSX's 5.64x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | CPCanadian Pacific … | CSXCSX Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $76.5B | $82.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $93.3B | $101.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 25.78x | 28.87x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 22.62x | 23.39x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 5.52x | 5.64x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 16.70x | 17.47x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 6.92x | 5.86x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.28x | 6.30x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 48.12x | 48.28x |
CP leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CSX leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CSX delivers a 23.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $24 in annual profit, vs $10 for CP. CP carries lower financial leverage with a 0.50x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CSX's 1.47x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CP scores 7/9 vs CSX's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CPCanadian Pacific … | CSXCSX Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.1% | +23.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.5% | +7.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.0% | +10.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.9% | +11.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.50x | 1.47x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $23.0B | $18.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $184M | $670M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $23.2B | $19.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 7.08x | 5.66x |
CSX leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CSX leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CSX five years ago would be worth $13,589 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,081 for CP. Over the past 12 months, CSX leads with a +58.6% total return vs CP's +16.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CSX at 12.9% vs CP's 2.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CPCanadian Pacific … | CSXCSX Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +14.7% | +23.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +16.3% | +58.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +7.4% | +44.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +10.8% | +35.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +230.2% | +459.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +2.4% | +12.9% |
CSX leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — CP and CSX each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CP is the less volatile stock with a 0.70 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CSX's 0.77 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | CPCanadian Pacific … | CSXCSX Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.70x | 0.77x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $89.42 | $46.55 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $68.42 | $28.13 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.3% | +95.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 57.7 | 65.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.7M | 12.1M |
Evenly matched — CP and CSX each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
CSX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CP as "Buy" and CSX as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 8.0% upside for CP (target: $92) vs -3.1% for CSX (target: $43). For income investors, CSX offers the higher dividend yield at 1.17% vs CP's 0.75%.
| Metric | CPCanadian Pacific … | CSXCSX Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $92.00 | $43.08 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 43 | 46 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.7% | +1.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 21 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.87 | $0.52 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.8% | +1.7% |
CSX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
CSX leads in 3 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). CP leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallCSX Corporation (CSX)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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CP vs CSX: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CP or CSX a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd.
(CP) is the stronger pick with 3. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 1% for CSX Corporation (CSX). Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. (CP) offers the better valuation at 25. 8x trailing P/E (22. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. (CP) a "Buy" — based on 43 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — CP or CSX?
On trailing P/E, Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd.
(CP) is the cheapest at 25. 8x versus CSX Corporation at 28. 9x. On forward P/E, Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. is actually cheaper at 22. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: CSX Corporation wins at 4. 57x versus Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. 's 4. 84x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CP or CSX?
Over the past 5 years, CSX Corporation (CSX) delivered a total return of +35.
9%, compared to +10. 8% for Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. (CP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CSX returned +459. 3% versus CP's +230. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — CP or CSX?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd.
(CP) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 70β versus CSX Corporation's 0. 77β — meaning CSX is approximately 9% more volatile than CP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. (CP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 50% versus 147% for CSX Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CP or CSX?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd.
(CP) is pulling ahead at 3. 7% versus -3. 1% for CSX Corporation (CSX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. grew EPS 13. 3% year-over-year, compared to -14. 0% for CSX Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, CP leads at 19. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — CP or CSX?
Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd.
(CP) is the more profitable company, earning 27. 5% net margin versus 20. 5% for CSX Corporation — meaning it keeps 27. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CP leads at 37. 2% versus 32. 1% for CSX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CP leads at 52. 2%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is CP or CSX more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.
By this metric, CSX Corporation (CSX) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 4. 57x versus Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. 's 4. 84x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. (CP) trades at 22. 6x forward P/E versus 23. 4x for CSX Corporation — 0. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CP: 8. 0% to $92. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — CP or CSX?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
CSX Corporation (CSX) offers the highest yield at 1. 2%, versus 0. 7% for Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. (CP).
09Is CP or CSX better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, CSX Corporation (CSX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
77), 1. 2% yield, +459. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CSX: +459. 3%, CP: +230. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between CP and CSX?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(CP: -2.5% · CSX: 1.7%)Net Margin>
%
(CP: 27.2% · CSX: 21.6%)P/E Ratio<
x
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