The Gates Foundation Trust's $34.4 billion equity portfolio reveals a preference for industrial and consumer stocks over technology companies. With Berkshire Hathaway as its largest holding at $7.4 billion, the foundation also maintains significant positions in Caterpillar, Canadian National Railway, Waste Management, and Deere. This strategy demonstrates that solid long-term returns can be achieved through steady compounders rather than volatile tech stocks, while still benefiting from trends like AI-driven data center construction.

Canadian National Railway (CN) announced a quarterly dividend of $0.9150 CAD per share payable on September 29, 2026. The company reported strong second-quarter 2026 results with a 10% increase in diluted EPS (11% adjusted, 12% at constant currency) and raised its 2026 financial guidance.

The article recommends two industrial stocks experiencing modest pullbacks as buying opportunities: Canadian National Railway, which has pulled back 1.5% despite a 17.3% year-to-date gain, praised for its strong cash flow generation and strategic North American network; and Johnson Controls, down 1.6% over the past week but up 19.3% year-to-date, highlighted for its exposure to data center cooling systems and a $20 billion backlog driving growth.

The Gates Foundation's $34 billion equity portfolio is heavily concentrated in four non-tech stocks: Berkshire Hathaway, Caterpillar, Waste Management, and Canadian National Railway. These investments reflect Warren Buffett's influence on Gates' strategy, favoring stable, predictable businesses in finance, industrials, and utilities over high-flying tech stocks. Recent data center demand has boosted Caterpillar to the portfolio's second-largest position.

CN has signed a transportation agreement with BHP to support potash shipments from the Jansen potash mine in Saskatchewan to west coast export terminals. The agreement leverages CN's 20,000-mile network to connect Canadian potash producers to international markets in Asia and Latin America, supporting the initial production phase of one of the world's largest new potash developments.

CN has signed a transportation agreement with BHP to move potash from the Jansen Potash Mine in Saskatchewan to export terminals on Canada's West Coast. The agreement leverages CN's 20,000-mile rail network to connect potash production to global markets through Westshore Terminals in Vancouver, supporting the initial production phase of one of the world's largest new potash developments.

The Gates Foundation Trust has completely divested from Microsoft after decades of slowly selling its position. The $31.6 billion endowment has instead added West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) to its portfolio, a healthcare stock with 32 consecutive years of dividend increases and forecasted earnings growth of 14-15% annually through 2027, positioning it as a potential future Dividend King.

The Surface Transportation Board has frozen its review of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern's proposed merger, ordering them to provide substantial additional information. The STB found the amended application lacks clarity, contains unresolved competitive harms, and inadequate analyses. CN commends the decision, arguing the applicants have failed to meet rigorous merger standards and that the deal would concentrate approximately 40% of U.S. freight rail traffic in one company.

Canadian National Railway (CN) filed comments with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) opposing the amended merger application between Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS), arguing it remains incomplete and fails to meet regulatory requirements. CN contends the application addresses only one of three deficiencies identified by the Board, lacks meaningful competitive enhancements, and proposes an insufficient Committed Gateway Pricing program that would harm more shippers than help.

Canadian National Railway (CN) announced a public debt offering of $750 million USD, consisting of $300 million in notes due 2029 at 4.350% and $450 million in notes due 2036 at 4.950%. The offering is expected to close on May 12, 2026, with proceeds intended for general corporate purposes including commercial paper repayment.

Canadian National Railway (CN) announced a public debt offering of US$750 million, comprised of US$300 million of 4.350% Notes due 2029 and US$450 million of 4.950% Notes due 2036. The offering is expected to close on May 12, 2026, with net proceeds to be used for general corporate purposes including commercial paper repayment. J.P. Morgan Securities, RBC Capital Markets, and SMBC Nikko Securities are serving as joint bookrunners.

Canadian National Railway (CNI) announced that its Board of Directors has approved a second-quarter 2026 dividend of C$0.9150 per common share, payable on June 30, 2026, to shareholders of record as of June 9, 2026.