MOS vs UNP

For growth investors, The Mosaic Company (MOS) is the stronger pick with 5.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 1% for Union Pacific Corporation (UNP). The Mosaic Company (MOS) offers the better valuation at 6. 1x trailing P/E (16. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) a "Buy" — based on 47 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, The Mosaic Company (MOS) is the cheapest at 6.

1x versus Union Pacific Corporation at 22. 4x. On forward P/E, The Mosaic Company is actually cheaper at 16. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: The Mosaic Company wins at 0. 93x versus Union Pacific Corporation's 2. 45x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) delivered a total return of +29.

4%, compared to -22. 9% for The Mosaic Company (MOS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UNP returned +261. 3% versus MOS's +12. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), The Mosaic Company (MOS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

52β versus Union Pacific Corporation's 0. 64β — meaning UNP is approximately 23% more volatile than MOS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The Mosaic Company (MOS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 6% versus 172% for Union Pacific Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Mosaic Company (MOS) is pulling ahead at 5.

0% versus 1. 1% for Union Pacific Corporation (UNP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Mosaic Company grew EPS 605. 5% year-over-year, compared to 7. 9% for Union Pacific Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, UNP leads at -0. 5% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) is the more profitable company, earning 29.

1% net margin versus 10. 5% for The Mosaic Company — meaning it keeps 29. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UNP leads at 40. 1% versus 9. 9% for MOS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UNP leads at 59. 4%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, The Mosaic Company (MOS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 93x versus Union Pacific Corporation's 2. 45x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, The Mosaic Company (MOS) trades at 16. 1x forward P/E versus 21. 3x for Union Pacific Corporation — 5. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MOS: 32. 6% to $31. 25.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

The Mosaic Company (MOS) offers the highest yield at 4. 0%, versus 2. 0% for Union Pacific Corporation (UNP).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

64), 2. 0% yield, +261. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (UNP: +261. 3%, MOS: +12. 7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (MOS (Basic Materials) and UNP (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: MOS is a small-cap deep-value stock; UNP is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.