Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) Dividend History
Income profile from 1980 to 2026 with payout safety and yield-on-cost trend
UNP Dividend Income Check
Safety
45.3% payout ratio with sustainable safety profile.
Consistency
19 straight years of dividend increases.
Income Trend
Yield on cost is 2.7% and trend is rising.
UNP Dividend Scorecard
Yield & Income
Payout Safety
Growth
Total Returns
Uses precomputed total return metrics from screening data (not lot-by-lot dividend reinvestment transactions). Different time windows can produce different outcomes depending on market regime and entry point.
UNP Income Growth Story
Dividend per share and yield on cost over time (47 years of payments)
UNP Dividend Safety Story
EPS is the container — dividend is what's drawn out
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Dividend Analysis
Payout Safety
Union Pacific Corporation distributes 45.3% of earnings as dividends (Sustainable). When measured against free cash flow—a stricter test—the payout ratio stands at 77.1%, rated "Stretched".
Piotroski F-Score: 8/9 — strong financial health.
Growth Track Record
UNP has raised its dividend for 19 consecutive years, with a 3-year CAGR of 2.3% and 5-year CAGR of 7.0%.
Total Shareholder Returns
Beyond cash dividends, UNP returns capital through share repurchases. The combined picture: 2.1% dividend yield, 1.8% buyback yield, 3.9% total shareholder yield.
Income Trend & Total Return
Yield on cost (5-year basis) has reached 2.7% and is currently rising. The 5-year total return is 31.7%, with dividends contributing 12.1% of that performance.
DRIP Growth
A $10,000 investment made 10 years ago with dividends reinvested would have grown to approximately $33,966 today.
UNP Recent Dividend Payments
Last 20 payments · Semi-Annual
| Ex-Date | Amount | Change | Yield % | Payment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2026Latest | $1.3800 | — | 2.10% | Jun 30, 2026 |
| Feb 27, 2026 | $1.3800 | — | 2.07% | Mar 31, 2026 |
| Dec 5, 2025 | $1.3800 | — | 2.31% | Dec 30, 2025 |
| Aug 29, 2025 | $1.3800 | ↑ +3.0% | 2.42% | Sep 30, 2025 |
| May 30, 2025 | $1.3400 | — | 2.42% | Jun 30, 2025 |
| Feb 28, 2025 | $1.3400 | — | 2.16% | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Dec 9, 2024 | $1.3400 | — | 2.26% | Dec 30, 2024 |
| Aug 30, 2024 | $1.3400 | ↑ +3.1% | 2.05% | Sep 30, 2024 |
UNP Dividend vs Peers
Comparable companies in the same industry
| Company | Mkt Cap | Yield | Payout | Streak | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2nd | $152.5B | 2.1% | 45.3% | 19 | Sustainable |
| $84.8B | 1.1% | 33.6% | 21 | Sustainable | |
3rd | $67.4B | 1.8% | 42.3% | 0 | Sustainable |
| $77.2B | 0.7% | 19.2% | 1 | Sustainable | |
1st | $69.4B | 2.2% | 46.8% | 30 | Sustainable |
| $25.7B | 0.6% | — | 12 | Unknown | |
| $46.1B | 0.5% | 23.0% | 9 | Sustainable |
UNP Annual Dividend History (1980–2026)
47 years of dividend data
| Year | DPS | YoY | Pmts | EPS | Payout | Coverage | YOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $2.76 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1.4% |
| 2025 | $5.44 | 3.0% | 4 | $11.97 | 45.4% | 2.20x | 2.7% |
| 2024 | $5.28 | 1.5% | 4 | $11.09 | 47.6% | 2.10x | 2.6% |
| 2023 | $5.20 | 2.4% | 4 | $10.45 | 49.8% | 2.01x | 2.6% |
| 2022 | $5.08 | 18.4% | 4 | $11.21 | 45.3% | 2.21x | 2.5% |
| 2021 | $4.29 | 10.6% | 4 | $9.95 | 43.1% | 2.32x | 2.1% |
| 2020 | $3.88 | 4.9% | 4 | $7.88 | 49.2% | 2.03x | 1.9% |
| 2019 | $3.70 | 20.9% | 4 | $8.38 | 44.2% | 2.26x | 1.8% |
| 2018 | $3.06 | 23.4% | 4 | $7.91 | 38.7% | 2.58x | 1.5% |
| 2017 | $2.48 | 10.0% | 4 | $13.36 | 18.6% | 5.39x | 1.2% |
Full Stock Analysis
Deep dive into UNP consensus models and risk factors.
Intrinsic Valuation
DCF models, multiple analysis, and analyst estimates.
Historical Returns
46+ years return with dividends reinvested.
DCA Calculator
See how regular investing compounds over time.
Peer Comparison
Compare growth, multiples, and margins vs sector.
UNP — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying UNP stock.
How much dividend does UNP pay per share?
Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) pays a trailing 12-month dividend of $5.45 per share, with a current dividend yield of +2.1%. Payments are made Semi-Annual.
When is UNP's next ex-dividend date?
UNP's most recent ex-dividend date is N/A. You must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive the next payment. UNP typically pays dividends Semi-Annual.
Is UNP's dividend safe?
UNP's dividend safety is rated "Sustainable" based on an earnings payout ratio of +45.3% and FCF payout ratio of +77.1%. With 19 consecutive years of dividend growth, the track record supports sustainability.
Is UNP a Dividend Achiever?
Yes, Union Pacific Corporation is classified as a Dividend Achiever with 19 consecutive years of dividend increases. The 5-year dividend CAGR is +7.0%, demonstrating above-inflation dividend growth.
How often does UNP pay dividends?
Union Pacific Corporation pays dividends Semi-Annual. The trailing 12-month total is $5.45 per share. Dividend data on this page covers 46+ years from 1980 to 2026.
How much would $10,000 invested in UNP grow with dividend reinvestment?
With dividends reinvested (DRIP), $10,000 invested in UNP five years ago would be worth approximately $13,169 today. This includes both price appreciation and compounded dividend reinvestment. Use the DRIP calculator above for other time periods.
What is UNP's yield on cost for long-term holders?
UNP's yield on cost — the current dividend divided by the original purchase price — is +2.7% for a 5-year holding period. This means long-term holders earn a higher effective yield than today's +2.1% market yield, thanks to consistent dividend growth.