Trailing Dividend / Share
$5.45
Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) Dividend History
Income profile from 1980 to 2026 with payout safety and yield-on-cost trend
Dividend Yield
2.1%
Payout Ratio
45.3%
Sustainable
Dividend Streak
19 years
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
Dividend Yield2.1%
Trailing DPS$5.45
FrequencyAnnual
Payments / 12M4
Payout Safety
Earnings Payout45.3%
Earnings SafetySustainable
FCF Payout77.1%
FCF SafetyStretched
Piotroski F-Score8/9
Growth
Growth Streak19 years
3Y CAGR2.3%
5Y CAGR7.0%
Yield on Cost (5Y)2.7%
YOC Trendrising
Total Returns
Buyback Yield1.7%
Total Shareholder Yield3.8%
1Y Total Return26.4%
5Y Total Return26.6%
Div Contribution (5Y)11.2%
Estimated $10K growth (return + dividends):
5Y ago$12,65810Y ago$36,19020Y ago$135,431
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
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, 1.7% buyback yield, 3.8% 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 26.6%, with dividends contributing 11.2% of that performance.
DRIP Growth
A $10,000 investment made 10 years ago with dividends reinvested would have grown to approximately $36,190 today.
FCF payout is stretched — the dividend consumes a large share of free cash flow.
UNP Recent Dividend Payments
Last 20 payments · Annual
TTM Total$25.70
Avg/Payment$1.2850
| Ex-Date | Amount | Change | Yield % | Payment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 27, 2026Latest | $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 |
| May 31, 2024 | $1.3000 | — | 2.23% | Jun 28, 2024 |
UNP Dividend vs Peers
Comparable companies in the same industry
#2 yield in peer group
Div Yield
2.1%
#2 of 7
Safety
Sustainable
45.3% payout
Streak
19Y
7.0% 5Y CAGR
Total Shareholder
3.8%
#3 of 7
| Company | Mkt Cap | Yield | Payout | Streak | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2nd UNPUnion Pacific Corpor… | $157.2B | 2.1% | 45.3% | 19 | Sustainable |
 CSXCSX Corporation | $82.6B | 1.2% | 33.6% | 21 | Sustainable |
3rd  NSCNorfolk Southern Cor… | $70.4B | 1.7% | 42.3% | 24 | Sustainable |
 CPCanadian Pacific Kan… | $76.5B | 0.7% | 19.2% | 2 | Sustainable |
1st  CNICanadian National Ra… | $67.8B | 2.3% | 46.8% | 12 | Sustainable |
 JBHTJ.B. Hunt Transport … | $22.9B | 0.7% | — | 12 | Unknown |
 ODFLOld Dominion Freight… | $41.3B | 0.6% | 23.0% | 10 | Sustainable |
UNP Annual Dividend History (1980–2026)
47 years of dividend data
GrowthDecline
| Year | DPS | YoY | Pmts | EPS | Payout | Coverage | YOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $1.38 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 0.7% |
| 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 UNP Stock Analysis
Analyst consensus, bull case, AI-generated risk factors, and peer comparison — all in one place.
Should I Buy UNP Right Now?
Bull case, key risks, Wall St analyst verdict, and what council investors are saying — updated daily.
See UNP's True Return
Price is only half the story. See total return with reinvested dividends.
Launch CalculatorIs UNP Undervalued?
DCF intrinsic value, peer multiples, and analyst estimates — see what the stock is really worth.
View ValuationCompare UNP vs SPIR
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Start ComparisonUNP — 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 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 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 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 $12,658 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.