CSX Q3 Revenue Up 15% as Railroad Hauls 2% Extra Freight

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OMAHA, Neb. — CSX Corp. delivered 15% extra revenue within the third quarter because it dealt with 2% extra freight and labored to eradicate the delays shippers have been complaining about for months.

The Jacksonville, Fla.-based railroad stated Oct. 20 that it earned $1.11 billion, or 52 cents per share, within the three-month interval that ended Sept. 30. That’s up from $968 million, 43 cents, a yr in the past.

The outcomes beat Wall Road expectations for earnings of 49 cents per share, in response to FactSet. The numbers embrace a $42 million cost as a result of the contracts railroads negotiated with their unions that embrace 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses price greater than CSX anticipated.

Newly employed CEO Joe Hinrichs stated he’s hopeful all 12 rail unions will approve their offers as a result of they embrace “very historic wins for the unions with regards to economics and wage will increase.” To date, six unions have ratified their contracts, however all 12 should achieve this to keep away from a strike.

CSX has been hiring extra employees all year long to assist it higher deal with the freight its clients need to ship with out vital delays. The railroad stated its headcount is now as much as 6,819 from about 6,400 initially of the yr. Its aim is to have roughly 7,000 staff by the top of the yr.

CSX locomotives sit at a yard at Bowling Inexperienced, Ky. The rail firm exceeded analyst projections in a number of areas with their 3Q earnings. (Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg Information)

These further employees are serving to. All year long, the typical pace of CSX’s trains has been rising and hit 15.8 mph within the third quarter. That’s down from final yr’s 17.7 mph however considerably higher than the 14.9 mph CSX reported initially of this yr.

Hinrichs stated even with the uncertainty within the financial system, the railroad nonetheless expects to generate double-digit enchancment in its full-year income and working earnings this yr. He stated it’s too quickly to inform if there shall be a recession as a result of the railroad continues to be getting sturdy demand from some companies whereas different sectors are slowing and total unemployment stays low.

CSX says it’s centered on bettering its service so it will probably deal with extra freight, and that it nonetheless sees pent-up demand for auto and coal shipments it hasn’t been capable of ship this yr.

“As our manpower has come on and the community has began to maneuver extra fluidly across the group, we’re very inspired by that,” Hinrichs stated. “That being stated, we’re not again to the place we had been in late 2019. That’s our first goal is to get again to these ranges after which develop from there.”

Hinrichs brings his perspective as a railroad buyer from his lengthy profession within the auto business. Edward Jones analyst Jeff Windau stated that may assist the railroad proceed to enhance the service additional.

Joe Hinrichs, CEO of CSX Corp.

“He has the perception from the opposite facet of the fence. I believe he’s actually centered on service and bettering reliability,” Windau stated.

CSX is without doubt one of the nation’s largest railroads, and it operates greater than 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometers) of observe in 26 Japanese states and two Canadian provinces after buying Pam-Am Railways within the northeastern United States earlier this yr.

Shares in CSX rose practically 4% in after-hours buying and selling following the discharge of the earnings report.

CSX Corp. is ranked No. 18 on the Transport Subjects High 50 record of the most important international carriers.

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