Union Pacific Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

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Jul 25, 2024

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) today reported 2024 second quarter net income of $1.7 billion, or $2.74 per diluted share. This compares to 2023 second quarter net income of $1.6 billion, or $2.57 per diluted share.

“Our second quarter performance demonstrates the team’s ability to deliver strong results,” said Jim Vena, Union Pacific Chief Executive Officer. “This provides further proof that our strategy to be the best in safety, service, and operational excellence will drive success. The entire Union Pacific team is energized behind this strategy and wants to win. As we build on the foundation we’ve laid over the past 12 months, we look forward to demonstrating what’s possible for our great company.”

Second Quarter Summary: 2024 vs. 2023

Financial Results: Solid Operating Income Growth Driven by Core Pricing Gains, Operating Efficiency, and Intermodal Equipment Sale

  • Operating revenue of $6.0 billion was up 1% driven by core pricing gains and increased volume partially offset by business mix and reduced fuel surcharge.
  • Freight revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue grew 2% as revenue carloads grew slightly.
  • Operating ratio was 60.0%, an improvement of 300 basis points. Lower quarterly fuel prices and an existing environmental remediation compliance order negatively impacted the operating ratio 10 and 30 basis points, respectively. A sale of intermodal equipment aided the operating ratio 70 basis points.
  • Operating income of $2.4 billion was up 9%.

Operating Performance: Continued Improvement Across Safety and Operational Excellence as Network Challenged by Weather

  • Union Pacific’s year-to-date reportable personal injury and reportable derailment rates both improved.
  • Quarterly freight car velocity of 201 daily miles per car was flat.
  • Quarterly locomotive productivity was 134 gross ton-miles (GTMs) per horsepower day, a 6% improvement.
  • Average maximum train length was 9,544 feet, a 2% increase.
  • Quarterly workforce productivity improved 5% to 1,031 car miles per employee.
  • Fuel consumption rate of 1.080, measured in gallons of fuel per thousand GTMs, improved 1%.

2024 Outlook

Updated

  • Second half volume outlook remains uncertain based on economic indicators and coal demand
  • Profitability outlook continues positive momentum with strong service product, improving network efficiency, and solid pricing
  • Share repurchases of ~$1.5 billion in 2024

Affirmed

  • Pricing dollars in excess of inflation dollars
  • No change to long-term capital allocation strategy
    • Capital plan of $3.4 billion

Second Quarter 2024 Earnings Conference Call

Union Pacific will webcast its second quarter 2024 earnings release presentation live at https://investor.unionpacific.com and via teleconference on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at 8:45 a.m. Eastern Time. Participants may join the conference call by dialing 877-407-8293 (or for international participants, 201-689-8349).

ABOUT UNION PACIFIC

Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) delivers the goods families and businesses use every day with safe, reliable, and efficient service. Operating in 23 western states, the company connects its customers and communities to the global economy. Trains are the most environmentally responsible way to move freight, helping Union Pacific protect future generations. More information about Union Pacific is available at www.up.com.

Supplemental financial information is attached.

This news release and related materials contain statements about the Company’s future that are not statements of historical fact, including specifically the statements regarding the potential impacts of public health crises, including pandemics, epidemics and the outbreak of other contagious diseases, such as the coronavirus and its variant strains (COVID); the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars and other geopolitical tensions in the middle east, and any impacts on our business operations, financial results, liquidity, and financial position, and on the world economy (including customers, employees, and supply chains), including as a result of fluctuations in volume and carloadings; expectations as to general macroeconomic conditions, including slowdowns and recessions, domestically or internationally, and volatility in interest rates and fuel prices; closing of customer manufacturing, distribution, or production facilities; expectations as to operational or service improvements; expectations as to hiring challenges; availability of employees; expectations regarding the effectiveness of steps taken or to be taken to improve operations, service, infrastructure improvements, and transportation plan modifications; expectations as to cost savings, revenue growth, and earnings; the time by which goals, targets, or objectives will be achieved; projections, predictions, expectations, estimates, or forecasts as to business, financial, and operational results, future economic performance, and general economic conditions; proposed new products and services; estimates of costs relating to environmental remediation and restoration; estimates and expectations regarding tax matters; expectations that claims, litigation, environmental costs, commitments, contingent liabilities, labor negotiations or agreements, cyberattacks or other matters. These statements are, or will be, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements also generally include, without limitation, information, or statements regarding: projections, predictions, expectations, estimates, or forecasts as to the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ business, financial, and operational results, and future economic performance; and management’s beliefs, expectations, goals, and objectives and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times that, or by which, such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking information, including expectations regarding operational and financial improvements and the Company’s future performance or results are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the statement. Important factors, including risk factors, could affect the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Information regarding risk factors and other cautionary information are available in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2023, which was filed with the SEC on February 9, 2024. The Company updates information regarding risk factors if circumstances require such updates in its periodic reports on Form 10-Q and its subsequent Annual Reports on Form 10-K (or such other reports that may be filed with the SEC).

Forward-looking statements speak only as of, and are based only upon information available on, the date the statements were made. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information. If the Company does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements. References to the Company’s website are provided for convenience and, therefore, information on or available through the website is not, and should not be deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein.

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)

Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and

2nd Quarter

Year-to-Date

Percentages, For the Periods Ended June 30,

2024

2023

%

2024

2023

%

Operating Revenues

Freight revenues

$

5,638

$

5,569

1

%

$

11,254

$

11,225

-

%

Other revenues

369

394

(6

)

784

794

(1

)

Total operating revenues

6,007

5,963

1

12,038

12,019

-

Operating Expenses

Compensation and benefits

1,187

1,269

(6

)

2,410

2,448

(2

)

Fuel

625

664

(6

)

1,283

1,430

(10

)

Purchased services and materials

644

650

(1

)

1,257

1,303

(4

)

Depreciation

596

577

3

1,190

1,149

4

Equipment and other rents

219

248

(12

)

435

483

(10

)

Other

336

351

(4

)

691

708

(2

)

Total operating expenses

3,607

3,759

(4

)

7,266

7,521

(3

)

Operating Income

2,400

2,204

9

4,772

4,498

6

Other income, net

103

93

11

195

277

(30

)

Interest expense

(319

)

(339

)

(6

)

(643

)

(675

)

(5

)

Income before income taxes

2,184

1,958

12

4,324

4,100

5

Income tax expense

(511

)

(389

)

31

(1,010

)

(901

)

12

Net Income

$

1,673

$

1,569

7

%

$

3,314

$

3,199

4

%

Share and Per Share

Earnings per share - basic

$

2.75

$

2.58

7

%

$

5.44

$

5.25

4

%

Earnings per share - diluted

$

2.74

$

2.57

7

$

5.43

$

5.24

4

Weighted average number of shares - basic

609.4

608.7

-

609.3

609.6

-

Weighted average number of shares - diluted

610.3

609.5

-

610.3

610.5

-

Dividends declared per share

$

1.30

$

1.30

-

$

2.60

$

2.60

-

Operating Ratio

60.0

%

63.0

%

(3.0)

pts

60.4

%

62.6

%

(2.2)

pts

Effective Tax Rate

23.4

%

19.9

%

3.5

pts

23.4

%

22.0

%

1.4

pts

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Freight Revenues Statistics (unaudited)

2nd Quarter

Year-to-Date

For the Periods Ended June 30,

2024

2023

%

2024

2023

%

Freight Revenues (Millions)

Grain & grain products

$

901

$

890

1

%

$

1,844

$

1,833

1

%

Fertilizer

203

183

11

404

369

9

Food & refrigerated

278

255

9

563

518

9

Coal & renewables

339

429

(21

)

727

934

(22

)

Bulk

1,721

1,757

(2

)

3,538

3,654

(3

)

Industrial chemicals & plastics

593

545

9

1,165

1,081

8

Metals & minerals

530

562

(6

)

1,045

1,098

(5

)

Forest products

342

347

(1

)

680

679

-

Energy & specialized markets

658

632

4

1,337

1,245

7

Industrial

2,123

2,086

2

4,227

4,103

3

Automotive

659

625

5

1,270

1,212

5

Intermodal

1,135

1,101

3

2,219

2,256

(2

)

Premium

1,794

1,726

4

3,489

3,468

1

Total

$

5,638

$

5,569

1

%

$

11,254

11,225

-

%

Revenue Carloads (Thousands)

Grain & grain products

200

197

2

%

410

399

3

%

Fertilizer

62

48

29

109

93

17

Food & refrigerated

46

44

5

92

88

5

Coal & renewables

158

203

(22

)

335

419

(20

)

Bulk

466

492

(5

)

946

999

(5

)

Industrial chemicals & plastics

169

164

3

333

321

4

Metals & minerals

184

210

(12

)

354

398

(11

)

Forest products

55

55

-

108

107

1

Energy & specialized markets

147

144

2

301

283

6

Industrial

555

573

(3

)

1,096

1,109

(1

)

Automotive

218

213

2

425

413

3

Intermodal [a]

798

749

7

1,537

1,483

4

Premium

1,016

962

6

1,962

1,896

3

Total

2,037

2,027

-

%

4,004

4,004

-

%

Average Revenue per Car

Grain & grain products

$

4,493

$

4,527

(1

)%

$

4,493

$

4,598

(2

)%

Fertilizer

3,311

3,830

(14

)

3,727

3,978

(6

)

Food & refrigerated

5,943

5,740

4

6,086

5,851

4

Coal & renewables

2,156

2,107

2

2,173

2,228

(2

)

Bulk

3,692

3,568

3

3,740

3,657

2

Industrial chemicals & plastics

3,507

3,336

5

3,497

3,368

4

Metals & minerals

2,885

2,677

8

2,955

2,760

7

Forest products

6,249

6,337

(1

)

6,272

6,360

(1

)

Energy & specialized markets

4,462

4,388

2

4,439

4,398

1

Industrial

3,825

3,646

5

3,855

3,701

4

Automotive

3,033

2,928

4

2,991

2,935

2

Intermodal [a]

1,421

1,471

(3

)

1,444

1,521

(5

)

Premium

1,766

1,794

(2

)

1,779

1,829

(3

)

Average

$

2,768

$

2,748

1

%

$

2,811

$

2,804

-

%

[a]

For intermodal shipments each container or trailer equals one carload.

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (unaudited)

Jun. 30,

Dec. 31,

Millions, Except Percentages

2024

2023

Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$

1,137

$

1,055

Short-term investments

20

16

Other current assets

3,341

3,077

Investments

2,705

2,605

Properties, net

57,835

57,398

Operating lease assets

1,386

1,643

Other assets

1,393

1,338

Total assets

$

67,817

$

67,132

Liabilities and Common Shareholders' Equity

Debt due within one year

$

727

$

1,423

Other current liabilities

3,560

3,683

Debt due after one year

31,165

31,156

Operating lease liabilities

988

1,245

Deferred income taxes

13,166

13,123

Other long-term liabilities

1,722

1,714

Total liabilities

51,328

52,344

Total common shareholders' equity

16,489

14,788

Total liabilities and common shareholders' equity

$

67,817

$

67,132

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)

Year-to-Date

Millions, for the Periods Ended June 30,

2024

2023

Operating Activities

Net income

$

3,314

$

3,199

Depreciation

1,190

1,149

Deferred and other income taxes

43

36

Other - net

(514

)

(526

)

Cash provided by operating activities

4,033

3,858

Investing Activities

Capital investments*

(1,699

)

(1,607

)

Other - net

107

(67

)

Cash used in investing activities

(1,592

)

(1,674

)

Financing Activities

Debt repaid

(1,807

)

(1,664

)

Dividends paid

(1,588

)

(1,588

)

Debt issued

800

1,599

Net issued/(paid) of commercial paper

297

19

Share repurchase programs

(100

)

(705

)

Other - net

30

11

Cash used in financing activities

(2,368

)

(2,328

)

Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

73

(144

)

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year

1,074

987

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period

$

1,147

$

843

Free Cash Flow**

Cash provided by operating activities

$

4,033

$

3,858

Cash used in investing activities

(1,592

)

(1,674

)

Dividends paid

(1,588

)

(1,588

)

Free cash flow

$

853

$

596

*

Capital investments include locomotive and freight car early lease buyouts of $96 million in 2024 and $14 million in 2023.

**

Free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure; however, we believe this measure is important to management and investors in evaluating our financial performance and measures our ability to generate cash without additional external financing.

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Operating and Performance Statistics (unaudited)

2nd Quarter

Year-to-Date

For the Periods Ended June 30,

2024

2023

%

2024

2023

%

Operating/Performance Statistics

Freight car velocity (daily miles per car)*

201

202

-

%

202

199

2

%

Average train speed (miles per hour)*

23.3

24.1

(3

)

23.7

24.1

(2

)

Average terminal dwell time (hours)*

22.7

23.3

(3

)

23.1

23.6

(2

)

Locomotive productivity (GTMs per horsepower day)

134

126

6

134

125

7

Gross ton-miles (GTMs) (millions)

206,806

207,606

-

412,835

414,254

-

Train length (feet)

9,544

9,316

2

9,415

9,238

2

Intermodal service performance index (%)

93

89

4

pts

93

85

8

pts

Manifest/Automotive service performance index (%)

84

84

-

pts

85

82

3

pts

Intermodal car trip plan compliance (%)**

83

79

4

pts

83

76

7

pts

Manifest/Automotive car trip plan compliance (%)**

64

64

-

pts

65

63

2

pts

Workforce productivity (car miles per employee)

1,031

978

5

1,015

983

3

Total employees (average)

30,556

32,243

(5

)

30,804

31,888

(3

)

Locomotive Fuel Statistics

Average fuel price per gallon consumed

$

2.73

$

2.86

(5

)%

$

2.77

$

3.04

(9

)%

Fuel consumed in gallons (millions)

223

226

(1

)

453

458

(1

)

Fuel consumption rate***

1.080

1.086

(1

)

1.097

1.105

(1

)

Revenue Ton-Miles (Millions)

Grain & grain products

19,995

18,858

6

%

40,644

38,902

4

%

Fertilizer

3,570

2,953

21

6,857

6,089

13

Food & refrigerated

4,693

4,514

4

9,610

9,057

6

Coal & renewables

16,351

20,864

(22

)

35,234

43,361

(19

)

Bulk

44,609

47,189

(5

)

92,345

97,409

(5

)

Industrial chemicals & plastics

8,069

7,214

12

15,496

14,305

8

Metals & minerals

8,301

9,209

(10

)

16,366

18,156

(10

)

Forest products

5,663

5,815

(3

)

11,243

11,364

(1

)

Energy & specialized markets

10,229

9,817

4

20,815

19,316

8

Industrial

32,262

32,055

1

63,920

63,141

1

Automotive

4,879

4,687

4

9,415

9,087

4

Intermodal

18,242

17,567

4

35,577

35,687

-

Premium

23,121

22,254

4

44,992

44,774

-

Total

99,992

101,498

(1

)%

201,257

205,324

(2

)%

*

Surface Transportation Board (STB) reported performance measures.

**

Methodology used to report is not comparable with the reporting to the STB under docket number EP 770.

***

Fuel consumption is computed as follows: gallons of fuel consumed divided by gross ton-miles in thousands.

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)

2024

Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and Percentages,

1st Qtr

2nd Qtr

Year-to-Date

Operating Revenues

Freight revenues

$

5,616

$

5,638

$

11,254

Other revenues

415

369

784

Total operating revenues

6,031

6,007

12,038

Operating Expenses

Compensation and benefits

1,223

1,187

2,410

Fuel

658

625

1,283

Purchased services and materials

613

644

1,257

Depreciation

594

596

1,190

Equipment and other rents

216

219

435

Other

355

336

691

Total operating expenses

3,659

3,607

7,266

Operating Income

2,372

2,400

4,772

Other income, net

92

103

195

Interest expense

(324

)

(319

)

(643

)

Income before income taxes

2,140

2,184

4,324

Income tax expense

(499

)

(511

)

(1,010

)

Net Income

$

1,641

$

1,673

$

3,314

Share and Per Share

Earnings per share - basic

$

2.69

$

2.75

$

5.44

Earnings per share - diluted

$

2.69

$

2.74

$

5.43

Weighted average number of shares - basic

609.2

609.4

609.3

Weighted average number of shares - diluted

610.2

610.3

610.3

Dividends declared per share

$

1.30

$

1.30

$

2.60

Operating Ratio

60.7

%

60.0

%

60.4

%

Effective Tax Rate

23.3

%

23.4

%

23.4

%

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Freight Revenue Statistics (unaudited)

2024

1st Qtr

2nd Qtr

Year-to-Date

Freight Revenues (Millions)

Grain & grain products

$

943

$

901

$

1,844

Fertilizer

201

203

404

Food & refrigerated

285

278

563

Coal & renewables

388

339

727

Bulk

1,817

1,721

3,538

Industrial chemicals & plastics

572

593

1,165

Metals & minerals

515

530

1,045

Forest products

338

342

680

Energy & specialized markets

679

658

1,337

Industrial

2,104

2,123

4,227

Automotive

611

659

1,270

Intermodal

1,084

1,135

2,219

Premium

1,695

1,794

3,489

Total

$

5,616

$

5,638

$

11,254

Revenue Carloads (Thousands)

Grain & grain products

210

200

410

Fertilizer

47

62

109

Food & refrigerated

46

46

92

Coal & renewables

177

158

335

Bulk

480

466

946

Industrial chemicals & plastics

164

169

333

Metals & minerals

170

184

354

Forest products

53

55

108

Energy & specialized markets

154

147

301

Industrial

541

555

1,096

Automotive

207

218

425

Intermodal [a]

739

798

1,537

Premium

946

1,016

1,962

Total

1,967

2,037

4,004

Average Revenue per Car

Grain & grain products

$

4,494

$

4,493

$

4,493

Fertilizer

4,271

3,311

3,727

Food & refrigerated

6,231

5,943

6,086

Coal & renewables

2,189

2,156

2,173

Bulk

3,787

3,692

3,740

Industrial chemicals & plastics

3,486

3,507

3,497

Metals & minerals

3,030

2,885

2,955

Forest products

6,297

6,249

6,272

Energy & specialized markets

4,416

4,462

4,439

Industrial

3,886

3,825

3,855

Automotive

2,947

3,033

2,991

Intermodal [a]

1,468

1,421

1,444

Premium

1,792

1,766

1,779

Average

$

2,855

$

2,768

$

2,811

[a]

For intermodal shipments each container or trailer equals one carload.

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Non-GAAP Measures Reconciliation to GAAP (unaudited)

Debt / Net Income

Millions, Except Ratios

Jun. 30,

Dec. 31,

for the Trailing Twelve Months Ended [a]

2024

2023

Debt

$

31,892

$

32,579

Net income

6,494

6,379

Debt / net income

4.9

5.1

Adjusted Debt / Adjusted EBITDA*

Millions, Except Ratios

Jun. 30,

Dec. 31,

for the Trailing Twelve Months Ended [a]

2024

2023

Net income

$

6,494

$

6,379

Add:

Income tax expense

1,963

1,854

Depreciation

2,359

2,318

Interest expense

1,308

1,340

EBITDA

$

12,124

$

11,891

Adjustments:

Other income, net

(409

)

(491

)

Interest on operating lease liabilities [b]

48

58

Adjusted EBITDA

$

11,763

$

11,458

Debt

$

31,892

$

32,579

Operating lease liabilities

1,305

1,600

Adjusted debt

$

33,197

$

34,179

Adjusted debt / adjusted EBITDA

2.8

3.0

[a]

The trailing twelve months income statement information ended June 30, 2024, is recalculated by taking the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, subtracting the six months ended June 30, 2023, and adding the six months ended June 30, 2024.

[b]

Represents the hypothetical interest expense we would incur (using the incremental borrowing rate) if the property under our operating leases were owned or accounted for as finance leases.

*

Adjusted debt (total debt plus operating lease liabilities plus after-tax unfunded pension and OPEB (other post retirement benefit) obligations) to adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and adjustments for other income and interest on present value of operating leases) is considered a non-GAAP financial measure by SEC Regulation G and Item 10 of SEC Regulation S-K and may not be defined and calculated by other companies in the same manner. We believe this measure is important to management and investors in evaluating the Company’s ability to sustain given debt levels (including leases) with the cash generated from operations. In addition, a comparable measure is used by rating agencies when reviewing the Company’s credit rating. Adjusted debt to adjusted EBITDA should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, other information provided in accordance with GAAP. The most comparable GAAP measure is debt to net income ratio. The tables above provide reconciliations from net income to adjusted EBITDA, debt to adjusted debt, and debt to net income to adjusted debt to adjusted EBITDA. At June 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, the incremental borrowing rate on operating leases was 3.7% and 3.6%, respectively. Pension and OPEB were funded at June 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023.

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