CSX Announce 4th Qtr and 2013 Earnings (Coal shipments decline)

[trisonic]

See if this works:

 

 

 

CSX Corporation Announces Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year Earnings

 

Highlights:

. Fourth-quarter and full-year earnings per share of $0.42 and $1.83, respectively

. Revenue gains broad-based, led by intermodal and merchandise markets

. Favorable outlook for majority of markets in 2014

        

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - January 15, 2014 - CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) today announced fourth-quarter 2013 net earnings of $426 million, or $0.42 per share, down slightly from $449 million, or $0.44 per share in 2012.  Prior year results included after-tax real estate gains of $57 million or 6 cents per share.

 

"Supported by the strength of an expanding economy, we delivered 6 percent volume growth in the quarter, despite another sharp decline in coal," said Michael J. Ward, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "As the economy continues to expand, CSX is well positioned to leverage that environment to create sustainable long-term value for our customers and shareholders."

 

Fourth-quarter revenue increased 5 percent to $3.0 billion, driven by broad-based strength in the company's merchandise and intermodal markets. Operations were resilient in the quarter, despite increased volume and challenging winter weather at the end of the quarter.  However, the cycling of prior year real estate gains contributed to operating income that was essentially unchanged at $813 million.

 

For the full-year 2013, net earnings were $1.83 per share, up slightly from $1.79 per share in 2012. Full-year 2013 revenue increased 2 percent to a record $12.0 billion, operating income remained stable at $3.5 billion, and the operating ratio increased slightly to 71.1 percent compared with 70.6 percent for 2012.

Looking forward, the company remains on target to sustain a high-60s operating ratio by 2015 and achieve a mid-60s operating ratio longer-term.

 

CSX executives will conduct a quarterly earnings conference call with the investment community on January 16, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time. Investors, media and the public may listen to the conference call by dialing 1-888-EARN-CSX (888-327-6279) and asking for the CSX earnings call. Callers outside the U.S., dial 1-773-756-0199. Participants should dial in 10 minutes prior to the call. In conjunction with the call, a live webcast will be accessible and presentation materials will be posted on the company's website at http://investors.csx.com. Following the earnings call, an internet replay of the presentation will be archived on the company website.

 

This earnings announcement, as well as additional detailed financial information, is contained in the CSX Quarterly Financial Report available on the company's website at http://investors.csx.com and on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company.  It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural, and consumer products.  For more than 185 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nation's economic expansion and industrial development.  Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nation's population resides.  It also links more than 240 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and small farming towns alike.  More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com. Like us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/OfficialCSX) and follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/CSX).

 

Forward-looking Statements

This information and other statements by the company may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act with respect to, among other items: projections and estimates of earnings, revenues, margins, volumes, rates, cost-savings, expenses, taxes, liquidity, capital expenditures, dividends, share repurchases or other financial items, statements of management's plans, strategies and objectives for future operations, and management's expectations as to future performance and operations and the time by which objectives will be achieved, statements concerning proposed new services, and statements regarding future economic, industry or market conditions or performance. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "estimate," "preliminary" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. If the company updates any forward-looking statement, no inference should be drawn that the company will make additional updates with respect to that statement or any other forward-looking statements.

 

Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, and actual performance or results could differ materially from that anticipated by any forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by any forward- looking statements include, among others; (i) the company's success in implementing its financial and operational initiatives; (ii) changes in domestic or international economic, political or business conditions, including those affecting the transportation industry (such as the impact of industry competition, conditions, performance and consolidation); (iii) legislative or regulatory changes; (iv) the inherent business risks associated with safety and security; (v) the outcome of claims and litigation involving or affecting the company; (vi) natural events such as severe weather conditions or pandemic health crises; and (vii) the inherent uncertainty associated with projecting economic and business conditions.

 

Other important assumptions and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are specified in the company's SEC reports, accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and the company's website at www.csx.com.

 

Contacts:

David Baggs, Investor Relations

End.

 

CSX's FaceBook page is interesting if you dig deep....

 

Best, Pete.

[dave1905]

With the price of natural gas so low, coal shipments are down nationwide.

[trisonic]

It had to happen didn't it?

 

Best, Pete.

[F-UnitMad]

Couple of non-finance points I noticed....

 

CSX links with 240 Short Lines - Wow!!!! That's a lot of Short Lines!!

 

How does CSX trace it's history back "over 185 years"..?

[skipepsi]

Couple of non-finance points I noticed....

 

CSX links with 240 Short Lines - Wow!!!! That's a lot of Short Lines!!

 

How does CSX trace it's history back "over 185 years"..?

That only takes it back to 1819 all sorts of freight possible at that time just not railways.....plateways possible though.

[skipepsi]

B&O was founded in 1827. Add 185 to that, and you get to 2012.

 

(Mick, 1819 is 195 years ago, but the report will be for 2013. "Over 185" sounds a bit less pompous than "186".)

Should have gone to bed earlier obviously, still thats why you measure twice cut once.

[jjb1970]

If people are interested in the early development of US Railroads I'd strongly recommend the following book:

 

The Pennsylvania Railroad: Building an Empire, 1846-1917 v. 1 (American Business, Politics, and Society)  by Albert J. Churella

 

Whilst a history of the Pennsylvania RR (which in any case is part of the DNA of CSX since they split up Conrail between themselves and NS) it gives a fascinating insight into the politics, economics and engineering of RR development in its early days, very strongly recommended. Apologies if that has gone off topic.

 

On coal, rightly or wrongly it is increasingly seen as yesterdays fuel however in terms of global energy use many forecasts see a convergence of oil, coal and gas. The rise of gas has led some to see oil as yesterdays fuel and coal as all but dead but that is far from being true. Whilst the market shares of oil and gas are being hit hard by the rise of cheap gas neither will be going away anytime soon.

[Adrian Wintle]

 

Whilst a history of the Pennsylvania RR (which in any case is part of the DNA of CSX since they split up Conrail between themselves and NS)

 

Only a very small part, since CSX got mostly the ex-NYC portion and NS mostly the ex-PRR portion.

 

Another interesting read are the Triumph books, mostly on the history of bits of the PRR, but some of the volumes cover other RRs as they relate to the PRR..

Triumph VI http://www.amazon.com/Triumph-VI-Challenger-Struggle-Superpower/dp/0934118280/ref=pd_sim_b_3

 

Adrian

[jjb1970]

Thanks for the recommendation on PRR books, I love the Pennsy and Conrail.