Danaher Corporation vs Union Pacific Corporation — how do they compare? Danaher Corporation trades at $200.72 (market cap $140.88B), while Union Pacific Corporation trades at $288.34 (market cap $171.17B). The key difference: Union Pacific Corporation is the larger of the two by market cap, and Union Pacific Corporation pays the higher dividend (1.91%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| DHR | UNP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $140.88B | $171.17B |
Sector | Health | Industrials |
52-Week High | $242.05 | $289.13 |
52-Week Low | $161.91 | $214.91 |
Enterprise Value | $153.66B | $201.64B |
Dividend Yield | 0.8% | 1.91% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Danaher (DHR) trades at $200.16, up 0.56% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong analyst support. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $2.06, beating estimates of $1.94, marking the third consecutive quarterly beat. Revenue for 2025 was $24.57 billion with a net income margin of 14.89%, though margins have compressed from prior years. Recent news includes the acquisition of Masimo and a $172.5 million legal settlement finalized in April 2026.
The outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $211.33, implying ~5.6% upside, supported by 69% buy ratings. Key risks include margin pressure, integration challenges from acquisitions, and macroeconomic sensitivity. The stock offers a dividend yield from its $0.40 quarterly payout, with solid cash flow generation offsetting debt levels.
Union Pacific (UNP) trades at $289.13, up 0.76% with a bullish technical signal. The company shows strong profitability with 29.2% net margins and 40.69% ROE, though valuation multiples remain elevated. Recent earnings beat expectations in Q1 2026, and the proposed Norfolk Southern merger represents a significant growth catalyst. Cash flow generation remains robust at $9.29B from operations in 2025.
Outlook remains positive with analyst consensus at Buy and $304.23 price target, though regulatory hurdles for the merger and elevated RSI levels pose near-term risks. The stock offers dividend growth potential with stable operational performance, but faces headwinds from industry consolidation concerns and potential legal liabilities from ongoing class action litigation.
Trailing returns across standard periods
In 1984, Danaher's founders transformed a real estate organization into an industrial-focused manufacturing company. Through a series of mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, including the Fortive separation in 2016, Danaher now focuses primarily on manufacturing scientific instruments and consumables in three segments: life sciences, diagnostics, and environmental and applied solutions. In late 2019, Danaher separated from its dental business through an initial public offering process, and in early 2020, it acquired GE's Biopharma business, now called Cytiva, which added to its life sciences segment.
Read more on DHR →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 →