Billionaires Are Piling Into Union Pacific. Here's What They See.
If it can get its merger with Norfolk Southern approved, Union Pacific would be the nation's first coast-to-coast freight line.
The proposed $85 billion merger between Union Pacific (UNP) and Norfolk Southern (NSC) could reshape the U.S. railroad industry by creating the first transcontinental railroad with over 52,000 miles of track. However, the merger faces opposition from labor unions, competitors, and farm groups, who argue it could lead to a monopoly and eliminate competition.
Proponents of the merger suggest it could benefit shippers by lowering freight costs and reducing pollution through single-line coast-to-coast rail service, eliminating the need for interstate trucking. As for Union Pacific's stock, it has surged more than 19% so far in 2021, attracting significant investment from some of the world's wealthiest individuals.
Among the major shareholders of Union Pacific are billionaires Chris Hohn, Ken Griffin, and Bill Gates. Griffin, who owns Citadel, is the company's largest individual shareholder with 2,675,693 shares. Hohn, through TCI Fund Management, holds 4,032 shares, while Gates, via Cascades, owns 3,435 shares of the railroad.
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