General Dynamics Corporation vs Union Pacific Corporation — how do they compare? General Dynamics Corporation trades at $365.81 (market cap $98.88B), while Union Pacific Corporation trades at $298.03 (market cap $171.20B). 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.
| GD | UNP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $98.88B | $171.20B |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $376.88 | $289.13 |
52-Week Low | $297.05 | $214.91 |
Enterprise Value | $105.06B | $201.67B |
Dividend Yield | 1.74% | 1.91% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
General Dynamics (GD) trades at $369.5, down 0.88% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong fundamental performance. The company has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters, with Q1 2026 EPS of $4.10 surpassing the $3.67 expectation. Revenue growth is robust, reaching $52.55B in 2025, while net income margin improved to 8.07%. The stock is supported by a substantial $130.8 billion backlog and a consistent dividend, with the next payment of $1.59 scheduled for August 7, 2026.
The outlook for GD is positive, driven by strong defense spending tailwinds, naval contract dominance, and consistent earnings beats. Investment opportunities include exposure to growing submarine and C5ISR markets. Key risks involve execution on massive backlogs, potential defense budget volatility, and valuation metrics (P/E of 23.01) that are above some industry peers, requiring sustained growth to justify.
Union Pacific (UNP) trades at $297.49, up 3.19% today, showing strong momentum with a bullish technical outlook. The company maintains robust fundamentals with a 29.2% net income margin and 40.69% ROE, supported by consistent earnings beats. Recent news highlights the proposed merger with Norfolk Southern, which could drive long-term value despite regulatory scrutiny. Cash flow remains positive at $252 million for 2025, though 2026 projections indicate a potential decline.
Outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $311.07, suggesting 4.6% upside. Key opportunities include operational efficiency and merger synergies, while risks involve regulatory hurdles and a class-action lawsuit. The stock's current valuation at 23.73 P/E appears reasonable given growth prospects, but investors should monitor merger progress and quarterly earnings.
Trailing returns across standard periods
General Dynamics is a defense contractor and business jet manufacturer. The firm's segments include aerospace, combat systems, marine, and technologies. The company's aerospace segment creates Gulfstream business jets. Combat system produces land-based combat vehicles, such as the M1 Abrams tank. The marine subsegment creates nuclear-powered submarines, among other things. The technologies segment contains two main units, an IT business that primarily serves the government market and a mission systems business that focuses on products that provide command, control, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities to the military.
Read more on GD →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 →