AES Corp vs Union Pacific Corporation — how do they compare? AES Corp trades at $14.73 (market cap $10.49B), while Union Pacific Corporation trades at $293.3 (market cap $173.99B). The key difference: Union Pacific Corporation is far larger — about 16.6× AES Corp's market cap, and AES Corp pays the higher dividend (4.79%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AES | UNP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $10.49B | $173.99B |
Sector | Utilities | Industrials |
52-Week High | $17.28 | $307.32 |
52-Week Low | $12.51 | $214.91 |
Enterprise Value | $40.75B | $203.04B |
Dividend Yield | 4.79% | 1.94% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AES trades at $14.73, unchanged on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a pending acquisition by Global Infrastructure Partners and EQT at $15 per share. The company reported revenue of $12.23B in 2025, with a net income margin of 7.43%, and has beaten earnings estimates in two of the last three quarters. Valuation ratios appear attractive with a P/E of 5.51 and P/S of 0.81, while cash flow from operations improved to $4.31B in 2025.
The outlook is dominated by the acquisition, offering a capped upside to $15. Strong profitability metrics like a 45.05% ROE and a 4.8% dividend yield provide support, but risks include shareholder litigation and regulatory scrutiny over the deal. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 42.86% buy ratings, reflecting uncertainty until transaction closure.
Union Pacific (UNP) trades at $292.24, down 0.3% on the day, with a neutral technical signal. The company reported strong Q2 2026 results, beating EPS and revenue estimates, and raised full-year guidance. Fundamentals remain robust with a net income margin of 28.85% and ROE of 39.7%, though valuation ratios like P/E of 23.71 are elevated. Recent news highlights a 3% dividend increase and ongoing merger developments with Norfolk Southern.
The outlook is positive, driven by service-led growth, pricing power, and efficiency gains. Key opportunities include domestic intermodal expansion and margin improvement. Risks involve high fuel costs, regulatory scrutiny of the merger, and economic sensitivity. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $334.33 price target, suggesting significant upside from current levels.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
AES is a global power company operating across 14 countries and 4 continents. Its current generation portfolio as of year-end 2021 consists of over 31 gigawatts of generation, with the generation mix composed of renewables (43%), gas (32%), coal (23%), and oil (2%). The company has 3.5 gigawatts of generation under construction. AES has majority ownership and operates six electric utilities distributing power to 2.6 million customers.
Read more on AES →Omaha, Nebraska-based Union Pacific is the largest public railroad in North America. Operating on more than 30,000 miles of track in the western two thirds of the U.S., UP generated roughly $22 billion of revenue in 2021 by hauling coal, industrial products, intermodal containers, agriculture goods, chemicals, and automotive goods. UP owns about one fourth of Mexican railroad Ferromex and derives about 10% of its revenue hauling freight to and from Mexico.
Read more on UNP →