Low-cost CN a Buy for Long-term gains

Article Excerpt

CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAY CO. $44 (Toronto symbol CNR; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 464.9 million; Market cap: $20.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.5; SI Rating: Above Average) operates the largest freight-rail network in Canada, and serves 16 U.S. states. It hauls consumer and industrial goods, which accounted for 21% of its 2008 revenue, forest products (19%), grain and fertilizers (18%), petroleum products (18%), metals and minerals (12%), coal (6%) and autos (6%). CN’s revenue rose from $6.5 billion in 2004 to $8.5 billion in 2008, partly due to acquisitions. Earnings grew from $1.3 billion, or 2.17 a share, in 2004 to $1.8 billion, or $3.40 a share, in 2006. CN’s earnings slipped to $1.7 billion, or $3.40 a share, in 2007. U.S. and cross-border traffic accounts for about half of CN’s revenue, and the higher Canadian dollar hurt the contribution from its American businesses. But thanks partly to a lower Canadian dollar, 2008 earnings improved to $1.8 billion,…