Union Pacific Stock Rises 2% on $690M Volume (Rank 169) as 3% Dividend Hike Extends 126-Year Streak

Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) rose 2.00% on Aug. 13, 2025, with a trading volume of $690 million, ranking 169th in daily market activity. The move followed a 3% dividend increase approved by the company’s board on July 16, 2025, raising the quarterly payout to $1.38 per share. This marks the 126th consecutive year of dividend payments for the railroad giant, reflecting its long-term commitment to shareholder returns.

The dividend adjustment aligns with broader industry trends of capital allocation strategies. While the decision was announced independently of recent market movements, it underscores UNP’s focus on balancing growth investments with rewarding equity holders. The updated dividend, set to be paid on Sept. 30, 2025, to shareholders of record as of Aug. 29, 2025, could influence investor sentiment ahead of the ex-dividend date.

The strategy of buying the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding them for one day from 2022 to now delivered moderate returns. The 1-day return was 0.98%, with a total return of 31.52% over 365 days. This indicates the strategy captured some short-term momentum but was subject to market fluctuations. It performed best in June 2023, with returns of 7.02%, indicating it benefited from broader market upticks.