Is CAT or UNP cheaper?

On trailing earnings, UNP is cheaper: CAT trades at a 45.30 P/E and UNP at 22.46.

Which has grown faster, CAT or UNP?

Over the past five years, CAT grew revenue faster — CAT at a 10.47% CAGR versus UNP at 5.05%.

Does CAT or UNP pay a bigger dividend?

CAT yields 0.66% and UNP yields 2.02% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is CAT or UNP more profitable?

UNP runs the higher net margin — CAT at 13.31% versus UNP at 29.20%.

Which has been the better investment, CAT or UNP?

Over the past 10-year, CAT delivered the higher annualized total return — CAT at 31.11% versus UNP at 14.35%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) vs Union Pacific Corporation (UNP)

UNP leads on 10 of 17 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Caterpillar Inc. and Union Pacific Corporation across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 15, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

Union Pacific Corporation

$161.91B

$272.70Industrials

Total return — CAT vs UNP

growth of $100 · last 30y

CAT +5472.6%UNP +2259.0%CAT compounded faster

CAT UNP

CAT vs UNP: by the numbers

•CAT is the larger company ($419.44B vs $161.91B market cap).
•UNP trades at the lower earnings multiple (22.46 vs 45.30 P/E).
•UNP converts more revenue to profit (29.20% vs 13.31% net margin).
•CAT grew revenue faster over the past five years (10.47% vs 5.05% CAGR).
•UNP pays the higher dividend yield (2.02% vs 0.66%).

Which is better, CAT or UNP?

Metric tally: CAT 7 · UNP 10

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueUNP(lower P/E)

GrowthCAT(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeUNP(higher dividend yield)

QualityUNP(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	CAT	UNP
P/E ratio	45.30	22.46●
Forward P/E	36.92	19.87●
P/S ratio	5.99●	6.55
P/B ratio	22.73	8.34●
PEG ratio	1.62●	2.34
EV / EBITDA	29.10	14.73●
FCF yield	2.70%	3.52%●

Profitability

Metric	CAT	UNP
Gross margin	32.52%	45.67%●
Operating margin	16.56%	40.09%●
Net margin	13.31%	29.20%●
ROE	50.48%●	37.15%
ROIC	11.42%	11.70%●

Dividends

Metric	CAT	UNP
Dividend yield	0.66%	2.02%●
Payout ratio	31.96%	45.96%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	CAT	UNP
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	10.47%●	5.05%
EPS CAGR (5Y)	27.96%●	8.74%
FCF CAGR (5Y)	17.77%●	0.04%
Total return CAGR (5Y)	35.15%●	6.62%

Frequently asked

Which is better, CAT or UNP?: It depends on your goal. value: UNP (lower P/E); growth: CAT (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: UNP (higher dividend yield); quality: UNP (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, UNP leads 10 to 7.
Is CAT or UNP cheaper?: On trailing earnings, UNP is cheaper: CAT trades at a 45.30 P/E and UNP at 22.46.
Which has grown faster, CAT or UNP?: Over the past five years, CAT grew revenue faster — CAT at a 10.47% CAGR versus UNP at 5.05%.
Does CAT or UNP pay a bigger dividend?: CAT yields 0.66% and UNP yields 2.02% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is CAT or UNP more profitable?: UNP runs the higher net margin — CAT at 13.31% versus UNP at 29.20%.
Which has been the better investment, CAT or UNP?: Over the past 10-year, CAT delivered the higher annualized total return — CAT at 31.11% versus UNP at 14.35%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full CAT analysis Full UNP analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

Caterpillar P/E ratio Union Pacific P/E ratio Caterpillar dividend yield Union Pacific dividend yield Caterpillar ROE Union Pacific ROE Caterpillar operating margin Union Pacific operating margin Caterpillar revenue growth Union Pacific revenue growth Caterpillar free cash flow Union Pacific free cash flow

Caterpillar & Union Pacific appear in these rankings

Highest Dividend Yield Stocks Highest ROE Stocks Highest Operating Margin Stocks Best 10-Year Total Return Stocks

Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 15, 2026.