Union Pacific Reports First Quarter 2023 Results
- Earnings per diluted share of $2.67
- Operating revenue up 3%
- Reportable Derailment Rate Improved 10%
OMAHA, Neb., April 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) today reported 2023 first quarter net income of $1.6 billion, or $2.67 per diluted share. These results include $107 million in other income from a one-time real estate transaction. This compares to 2022 first quarter net income of $1.6 billion, or $2.57 per diluted share.
"We delivered greater network fluidity and resiliency in the first quarter even as we faced a series of significant weather events," said Lance Fritz, Union Pacific chairman, president, and chief executive officer. "In addition to the impact of weather on carload volumes and costs, higher inflation also reduced our operating income and more than offset our record first quarter operating revenue. Despite a continued challenging environment, our strengthening service product, bolstered by a strong pipeline of new employees, gives us confidence we can capture available demand and improve efficiency the remainder of the year."
Financial Results: Topline Growth Driven by Fuel Surcharge Revenue and Core Pricing Gains; Service Recovery, Inflation, and Weather Impact Cost Structure; First Quarter Records for Operating Revenue, Net Income, and Earnings Per Share
First Quarter 2023 Compared to First Quarter 2022
- Operating revenue of $6.1 billion was up 3% driven by higher fuel surcharge revenue and core pricing gains, partially offset by a negative business mix and volume declines.
- Business volumes, as measured by total revenue carloads, were down 1%.
- Union Pacific's 62.1% operating ratio deteriorated 270 basis points. Falling fuel prices in the quarter positively impacted the operating ratio by 190 basis points.
- Operating income of $2.3 billion declined 3%.
- The company repurchased 2.9 million shares in first quarter 2023 at an aggregate cost of $0.6 billion.
Operating Performance: Service and Efficiency Measures Impacted by Weather Events
First Quarter 2023 Compared to First Quarter 2022
- Quarterly freight car velocity was 196 daily miles per car, a 1% decline.
- Quarterly locomotive productivity was 123 gross ton-miles (GTMs) per horsepower day, a 5% decline.
- Average maximum train length of 9,159 feet was flat.
- Quarterly workforce productivity decreased 6% to 991 car miles per employee.
- Fuel consumption rate of 1.123, measured in gallons of fuel per thousand GTMs, deteriorated 1%.
- Union Pacific's reportable derailment rate improved 10% to 2.21 per million train miles compared to 2.46 for 2022.
Maintaining 2023 Full Year Guidance
- Carloads to exceed Industrial Production
- Current Industrial Production forecast: -0.7%
- Operating ratio improvement
- Pricing dollars in excess of inflation dollars
- Capital Allocation:
- Capital spending less than 15% of revenue
- Capital plan of $3.6 billion
- Long term dividend payout target of ~45% of earnings
- Excess cash to share repurchases
First Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call
Union Pacific will webcast its first quarter 2023 earnings release presentation live at www.up.com/investor and via teleconference on Thursday, April 20, 2023, 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 the outbreak of pandemic or contagious disease, such as the coronavirus and its variant strains (COVID); the Russian Ukraine conflict on 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 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 2022, which was filed with the SEC on February 10, 2023. 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 | |||||||||||||
Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and | |||||||||||||
Percentages, For the Periods Ended March 31, | 2023 | 2022 | % | ||||||||||
Operating Revenues | |||||||||||||
Freight revenues | $ | 5,656 | $ | 5,440 | 4 | % | |||||||
Other revenues | 400 | 420 | (5) | ||||||||||
Total operating revenues | 6,056 | 5,860 | 3 | ||||||||||
Operating Expenses | |||||||||||||
Compensation and benefits | 1,179 | 1,101 | 7 | ||||||||||
Fuel | 766 | 714 | 7 | ||||||||||
Purchased services and materials | 653 | 561 | 16 | ||||||||||
Depreciation | 572 | 555 | 3 | ||||||||||
Equipment and other rents | 235 | 215 | 9 | ||||||||||
Other | 357 | 337 | 6 | ||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 3,762 | 3,483 | 8 | ||||||||||
Operating Income | 2,294 | 2,377 | (3) | ||||||||||
Other income, net | 184 | 47 | F | ||||||||||
Interest expense | (336) | (307) | 9 | ||||||||||
Income before income taxes | 2,142 | 2,117 | 1 | ||||||||||
Income tax expense | (512) | (487) | 5 | ||||||||||
Net Income | $ | 1,630 | $ | 1,630 | - | % | |||||||
Share and Per Share | |||||||||||||
Earnings per share - basic | $ | 2.67 | $ | 2.58 | 3 | % | |||||||
Earnings per share - diluted | $ | 2.67 | $ | 2.57 | 4 | ||||||||
Weighted average number of shares - basic | 610.6 | 632.2 | (3) | ||||||||||
Weighted average number of shares - diluted | 611.5 | 633.6 | (3) | ||||||||||
Dividends declared per share | $ | 1.30 | $ | 1.18 | 10 | ||||||||
Operating Ratio | 62.1 | % | 59.4 | % | 2.7 | pts | |||||||
Effective Tax Rate | 23.9 | % | 23.0 | % | 0.9 | pts | |||||||
UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES | ||||||||||||
For the Periods Ended March 31, | 2023 | 2022 | % | |||||||||
Freight Revenues (Millions) | ||||||||||||
Grain & grain products | $ | 943 | $ | 877 | 8 | % | ||||||
Fertilizer | 186 | 180 | 3 | |||||||||
Food & refrigerated | 263 | 267 | (1) | |||||||||
Coal & renewables | 505 | 508 | (1) | |||||||||
Bulk | 1,897 | 1,832 | 4 | |||||||||
Industrial chemicals & plastics | 536 | 520 | 3 | |||||||||
Metals & minerals | 536 | 485 | 11 | |||||||||
Forest products | 332 | 364 | (9) | |||||||||
Energy & specialized markets | 613 | 552 | 11 | |||||||||
Industrial | 2,017 | 1,921 | 5 | |||||||||
Automotive | 587 | 501 | 17 | |||||||||
Intermodal | 1,155 | 1,186 | (3) | |||||||||
Premium | 1,742 | 1,687 | 3 | |||||||||
Total | $ | 5,656 | $ | 5,440 | 4 | % | ||||||
Revenue Carloads (Thousands) | ||||||||||||
Grain & grain products | 202 | 205 | (1) | % | ||||||||
Fertilizer | 45 | 45 | - | |||||||||
Food & refrigerated | 44 | 47 | (6) | |||||||||
Coal & renewables | 216 | 225 | (4) | |||||||||
Bulk | 507 | 522 | (3) | |||||||||
Industrial chemicals & plastics | 157 | 160 | (2) | |||||||||
Metals & minerals | 188 | 182 | 3 | |||||||||
Forest products | 52 | 64 | (19) | |||||||||
Energy & specialized markets | 139 | 131 | 6 | |||||||||
Industrial | 536 | 537 | - | |||||||||
Automotive | 200 | 190 | 5 | |||||||||
Intermodal [a] | 734 | 757 | (3) | |||||||||
Premium | 934 | 947 | (1) | |||||||||
Total | 1,977 | 2,006 | (1) | % | ||||||||
Average Revenue per Car | ||||||||||||
Grain & grain products | $ | 4,668 | $ | 4,269 | 9 | % | ||||||
Fertilizer | 4,135 | 4,016 | 3 | |||||||||
Food & refrigerated | 5,963 | 5,637 | 6 | |||||||||
Coal & renewables | 2,341 | 2,262 | 3 | |||||||||
Bulk | 3,743 | 3,508 | 7 | |||||||||
Industrial chemicals & plastics | 3,402 | 3,247 | 5 | |||||||||
Metals & minerals | 2,853 | 2,660 | 7 | |||||||||
Forest products | 6,384 | 5,672 | 13 | |||||||||
Energy & specialized markets | 4,408 | 4,219 | 4 | |||||||||
Industrial | 3,760 | 3,574 | 5 | |||||||||
Automotive | 2,944 | 2,640 | 12 | |||||||||
Intermodal [a] | 1,573 | 1,566 | - | |||||||||
Premium | 1,866 | 1,782 | 5 | |||||||||
Average | $ | 2,861 | $ | 2,711 | 6 | % | ||||||
[a] | For intermodal shipments each container or trailer equals one carload. |
UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES | ||||||||
Mar. 31, | Dec. 31, | |||||||
Millions, Except Percentages | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
Assets | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,079 | $ | 973 | ||||
Short-term investments | - | 46 | ||||||
Other current assets | 2,979 | 2,933 | ||||||
Investments | 2,439 | 2,375 | ||||||
Properties, net | 56,274 | 56,038 | ||||||
Operating lease assets | 1,700 | 1,672 | ||||||
Other assets | 1,497 | 1,412 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 65,968 | $ | 65,449 | ||||
Liabilities and Common Shareholders' Equity | ||||||||
Debt due within one year | $ | 2,592 | $ | 1,678 | ||||
Other current liabilities | 3,617 | 3,842 | ||||||
Debt due after one year | 31,192 | 31,648 | ||||||
Operating lease liabilities | 1,233 | 1,300 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes | 13,084 | 13,033 | ||||||
Other long-term liabilities | 1,796 | 1,785 | ||||||
Total liabilities | 53,514 | 53,286 | ||||||
Total common shareholders' equity | 12,454 | 12,163 | ||||||
Total liabilities and common shareholders' equity | $ | 65,968 | $ | 65,449 | ||||
UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES | ||||||||
Millions, for the Periods Ended March 31, | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
Operating Activities | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 1,630 | $ | 1,630 | ||||
Depreciation | 572 | 555 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes | 52 | 60 | ||||||
Other - net | (414) | (9) | ||||||
Cash provided by operating activities | 1,840 | 2,236 | ||||||
Investing Activities | ||||||||
Capital investments* | (772) | (848) | ||||||
Maturities of short-term investments | 46 | - | ||||||
Other - net | (79) | 12 | ||||||
Cash used in investing activities | (805) | (836) | ||||||
Financing Activities | ||||||||
Debt issued | 1,199 | 3,490 | ||||||
Dividends paid | (795) | (743) | ||||||
Debt repaid | (647) | (866) | ||||||
Share repurchase programs | (575) | (2,743) | ||||||
Net issued/(paid) of commercial paper | (102) | (100) | ||||||
Accelerated share repurchase programs pending final settlement | - | (440) | ||||||
Other - net | (7) | (51) | ||||||
Cash used in financing activities | (927) | (1,453) | ||||||
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | 108 | (53) | ||||||
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year | 987 | 983 | ||||||
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period | $ | 1,095 | $ | 930 | ||||
Free Cash Flow** | ||||||||
Cash provided by operating activities | $ | 1,840 | $ | 2,236 | ||||
Cash used in investing activities | (805) | (836) | ||||||
Dividends paid | (795) | (743) | ||||||
Free cash flow | $ | 240 | $ | 657 | ||||
* | Capital investments include locomotive and freight car early lease buyouts of $8 million in 2023 and $46 million in 2022. |
** | 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 | ||||||||||||
For the Periods Ended March 31, | 2023 | 2022 | % | |||||||||
Operating/Performance Statistics | ||||||||||||
Freight car velocity (daily miles per car)* | 196 | 198 | (1) | % | ||||||||
Average train speed (miles per hour)* | 24.1 | 24.1 | - | |||||||||
Average terminal dwell time (hours)* | 24.0 | 24.0 | - | |||||||||
Locomotive productivity (GTMs per horsepower day) | 123 | 130 | (5) | |||||||||
Gross ton-miles (GTMs) (millions) | 206,648 | 209,706 | (1) | |||||||||
Train length (feet) | 9,159 | 9,205 | - | |||||||||
Intermodal car trip plan compliance (%)** | 72 | 71 | 1 | pts | ||||||||
Manifest/Automotive car trip plan compliance (%)** | 61 | 62 | (1) | pts | ||||||||
Workforce productivity (car miles per employee) | 991 | 1,056 | (6) | |||||||||
Total employees (average) | 31,471 | 30,189 | 4 | |||||||||
Locomotive Fuel Statistics | ||||||||||||
Average fuel price per gallon consumed | $ | 3.22 | $ | 2.95 | 9 | % | ||||||
Fuel consumed in gallons (millions) | 232 | 234 | (1) | |||||||||
Fuel consumption rate*** | 1.123 | 1.116 | 1 | |||||||||
Revenue Ton-Miles (Millions) | ||||||||||||
Grain & grain products | 20,044 | 21,029 | (5) | % | ||||||||
Fertilizer | 3,136 | 3,151 | - | |||||||||
Food & refrigerated | 4,543 | 4,702 | (3) | |||||||||
Coal & renewables | 22,497 | 24,250 | (7) | |||||||||
Bulk | 50,220 | 53,132 | (5) | |||||||||
Industrial chemicals & plastics | 7,091 | 7,559 | (6) | |||||||||
Metals & minerals | 8,947 | 8,745 | 2 | |||||||||
Forest products | 5,549 | 6,625 | (16) | |||||||||
Energy & specialized markets | 9,499 | 9,066 | 5 | |||||||||
Industrial | 31,086 | 31,995 | (3) | |||||||||
Automotive | 4,400 | 4,147 | 6 | |||||||||
Intermodal | 18,120 | 17,918 | 1 | |||||||||
Premium | 22,520 | 22,065 | 2 | |||||||||
Total | 103,826 | 107,192 | (3) | % | ||||||||
* | 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 | ||||||||
Adjusted Debt / Adjusted EBITDA* | ||||||||
Millions, Except Ratios | Mar. 31, | Dec. 31, | ||||||
for the Trailing Twelve Months Ended [a] | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
Net income | $ | 6,998 | $ | 6,998 | ||||
Add: | ||||||||
Income tax expense | 2,099 | 2,074 | ||||||
Depreciation | 2,263 | 2,246 | ||||||
Interest expense | 1,300 | 1,271 | ||||||
EBITDA | $ | 12,660 | $ | 12,589 | ||||
Adjustments: | ||||||||
Other income, net | (563) | (426) | ||||||
Interest on operating lease liabilities [b] | 54 | 54 | ||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 12,151 | $ | 12,217 | ||||
Debt | $ | 33,784 | $ | 33,326 | ||||
Operating lease liabilities | 1,577 | 1,631 | ||||||
Unfunded pension and OPEB, net of tax cost of $0 and $0 | - | - | ||||||
Adjusted debt | $ | 35,361 | $ | 34,957 | ||||
Adjusted debt / Adjusted EBITDA | 2.9 | 2.9 | ||||||
[a] | The trailing twelve months income statement information ended March 31, 2023, is recalculated by taking the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, subtracting the three months ended March 31, 2022, and adding the three months ended March 31, 2023. |
[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. |
* | Total debt plus operating lease liabilities plus after-tax unfunded pension and OPEB (other postretirement benefit) obligations divided by net income plus income tax expense, depreciation, amortization, interest expense, and adjustments for other income and interest on operating lease liabilities. Adjusted debt to adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and adjustments for other income and interest on operating lease liabilities) is considered 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, net income. The table above provide a reconciliation from net income to adjusted EBITDA and debt to adjusted debt. At March 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, the incremental borrowing rate on operating lease liabilities was 3.4% and 3.3%, respectively. |
SOURCE Union Pacific Corporation
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