Union Pacific Form 4: Director adds 193 phantom stock units valued at $234.74
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
John K. Tien Jr., a director of Union Pacific Corporation (UNP), reported receipt of 193 phantom stock units tied 1:1 to common shares and recorded 1,384 shares of common stock beneficially owned after the transaction. The filing shows the phantom units were treated as acquisitions and are payable in cash only upon retirement. The reported underlying value per share at the time of the transaction is shown as $234.74, and the reporting was executed by an attorney-in-fact on behalf of Mr. Tien.
Positive
- Increased reported ownership: Reporting person's beneficial ownership rose to 1,384 shares, improving alignment with shareholders.
- Clear 1:1 conversion: Phantom Stock Units convert on a 1:1 basis to underlying common share economic exposure.
- Transparent valuation: The filing discloses an indicative per-share value of $234.74 for the underlying shares.
Negative
- Deferred cash settlement: Phantom Stock Units are payable in cash only upon retirement, so no immediate increase in tradable shares or liquidity.
- No materiality context provided: The form does not indicate whether the change is material relative to total outstanding shares, limiting assessment of investor impact.
Insights
TL;DR: Director converted 193 phantom units into economic exposure, raising direct beneficial ownership to 1,384 shares; limited market impact.
The report documents a non-cash, phantom stock acquisition with a 1:1 distribution ratio and an indicated per-share value of $234.74. Because the phantom units are payable in cash at retirement rather than delivered as tradable shares, this transaction does not increase immediate market float. The change modestly increases the director's reported economic stake but is not likely material to UNP's valuation or trading dynamics on its own.
TL;DR: Transaction is a routine board compensation event with deferred cash settlement, raising beneficial ownership disclosure.
The filing discloses standard director compensation mechanics: phantom stock units distributed 1:1 and payable in cash upon retirement. This preserves alignment between management incentives and shareholder value while deferring liquidity. From a governance perspective, the reporting is timely and clarifies the nature of indirect holdings; there are no governance red flags disclosed in the form.