For the quarter ended June 2026, Canadian National (CNI Quick QuoteCNI - Free Report) reported revenue of $3.43 billion, up 11.2% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $1.50, compared to $1.35 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.26 billion, representing a surprise of +5.44%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +7.91%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $1.39.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how CN performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Operating Ratio: 62.5% versus the five-analyst average estimate of 63.2%.
• Carloads - Total: 1.41 million versus 1.41 million estimated by four analysts on average.
• Carloads - Coal: 110 thousand versus the four-analyst average estimate of 110.81 thousand.
• Carloads - Forest Products: 70 thousand versus 69.24 thousand estimated by four analysts on average.
• Carloads - Automotive: 58 thousand versus 57.05 thousand estimated by four analysts on average.
• Carloads - Intermodal: 573 thousand versus the four-analyst average estimate of 586.5 thousand.
• Revenue Ton Miles - Petroleum & Chemicals: 11.87 billion versus 11.64 billion estimated by four analysts on average.
• Carloads - Petroleum & Chemicals: 170 thousand compared to the 166.4 thousand average estimate based on four analysts.
• Revenue Ton Miles (RTM): 62.25 billion compared to the 60.86 billion average estimate based on four analysts.
• Revenue Ton Miles - Metals & Minerals: 7.03 billion versus the four-analyst average estimate of 6.85 billion.
• Revenue Ton Miles - Automotive: 953 million compared to the 899.93 million average estimate based on four analysts.
• Carloads - Metals & Minerals: 234 thousand versus 231.96 thousand estimated by four analysts on average.

View all Key Company Metrics for CN here>>>

Shares of CN have returned +8.5% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.6% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.