CNI vs SCHD: which was the better investment?
Canadian National Railway Company against Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Oct 20, 2011 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did CNI beat SCHD?
No — measured from Oct 20, 2011 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, SCHD came out ahead: $62,369 versus $44,746 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 13.2% annual return against 10.7%.
What would $10,000 in CNI be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Canadian National Railway Company (CNI) on Oct 20, 2011 would be worth about $44,746 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 347.5% (10.7% per year). The same $10,000 in SCHD would be worth $62,369.
Which was riskier — CNI or SCHD?
CNI swung with an annualized volatility of 21.8% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -35.2%; SCHD ran at 15.4% volatility with a -33.4% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.40 for CNI vs 0.73 for SCHD.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Oct 20, 2011 through Jul 13, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with CNI vs SCHD. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.