Canada offers investors many outstanding industrial companies to hold in their portfolios. Among the top of the list of industrial companies, we can find Canadian Pacific Railway (TSX:CP) and Canadian National Railway (TSX:CNR). These are two of the most well-known companies in Canada, with businesses operating from coast to coast. In this article, I’ll discuss which of these two stocks could be the better buy today.
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A bit of background on both companies
Canadian Pacific Railway (currently known as Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited after the April 2023 merger) was originally founded in 1881. It is the first and only railway company that operates tracks in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Altogether, Canadian Pacific’s railway network spans approximately 32,000 km.
Canadian National Railway, however, was founded in 1919. This company operates tracks that span from British Columbia to Nova Scotia. It also operates in select areas of the United States, venturing as far south as Louisiana. All accounted for, Canadian National Railway’s network spans about 33,000 km.
Taking a look at stock performance
This year hasn’t been the greatest for either stock. Looking at Canadian Pacific first, we can see that its stock has fallen about 3.6% year to date. While that may not be the worst performance out there, it’s certainly not something prospective investors would hope to see. However, it’s important to note that year to year, even the best stocks may experience rough stretches. Looking at the past five-year performance of this stock, investors can see that it has gained about 89% over that stretch.
Canadian National Railway, on the other hand, has fallen about 10.9% so far this year. Likewise, its five-year performance appears much better, coming in at a gain of 30.5%. In both cases, the two railway companies have managed to beat the TSX by a decent margin. However, if you’re interested in pure gains on the stock market, Canadian Pacific is by far the clear winner.
What about the dividends paid by each company?
These two companies are excellent dividend stocks. Again, starting with Canadian Pacific, we can see that the company has managed to pay shareholders a dividend since 2001. Over the years, Canadian Pacific has managed to implement many dividend raises. However, it last raised its dividend in 2020. That should be a cause for concern if you intend to hold this stock in your portfolio for its dividend. A stock that can’t continually raise its dividend could result in investors losing buying power over time.
Canadian National Railway, however, is much more impressive when it comes to dividend payments. This stock has managed to increase its distribution in each of the past 27 years. That makes it one of the most impressive Dividend Aristocrats in the country. Over that period, Canadian National Railway’s dividend has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 15.4%. That outpaces the inflation rate by a very wide margin.
The verdict
The better buy in this case depends on what you’re looking for in a stock. If you’re interested in a stock that could generate impressive capital appreciation, then Canadian Pacific could be the stock for you. However, if you want a solid and reliable dividend, then Canadian National would be better for your portfolio.
