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Norfolk Southern Reports Third-Quarter 2011 Results

NORFOLK, Va., Oct. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

For 2011 vs. 2010, Norfolk Southern achieved the following records:

  • Income from railway operations improved 26 percent to $938 million.
  • Net income increased 24 percent to $554 million.
  • Diluted earnings per share rose 34 percent to $1.59.
  • The railway operating ratio improved by 2.1 percentage points to 67.5 percent.

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) today reported record third-quarter net income of $554 million, 24 percent higher compared with $445 million for the same period of 2010. Diluted earnings per share were a record $1.59, up 34 percent, compared with $1.19 per share in the third quarter of 2010.

"Norfolk Southern produced another outstanding quarter, setting all-time records for income from operations and earnings per share, while also establishing third-quarter records for net income and operating ratio," said Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman. "We continue to see modest improvement in most of our business groups, and we remain focused on the long-term enhancement of our franchise."

Railway operating revenues of $2.9 billion rose 18 percent compared with the same period of 2010, primarily as the result of a 14 percent increase in revenue per unit.

General merchandise revenues were $1.4 billion, 12 percent higher compared with third-quarter 2010 results. Coal revenues increased 27 percent, to $899 million, compared with the same period last year. Intermodal revenues were $551 million, 19 percent higher compared with the third quarter of 2010.

Railway operating expenses for the quarter were $2.0 billion, 14 percent higher compared with the same period of 2010, primarily due to increased fuel expenses, which rose by $126 million, and compensation and benefits costs.

Income from railway operations climbed 26 percent to an all-time record $938 million compared with the same period last year.

The railway operating ratio improved by 2.1 percentage points to a third-quarter record 67.5 percent compared with 69.6 percent during third-quarter 2010.

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.

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Norfolk Southern Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)




Three Months Ended



Nine Months Ended



September 30,



September 30,



2011



2010



2011



2010



(in millions, except per share amounts)













Railway operating revenues:












   Coal

$

899


$

709


$

2,608


$

2,034

   General merchandise


1,439



1,283



4,191



3,765

   Intermodal


551



464



1,576



1,325

      Total railway operating revenues


2,889



2,456



8,375



7,124













Railway operating expenses:












   Compensation and benefits


736



680



2,240



2,049

   Purchased services and rents


403



377



1,191



1,086

   Fuel


385



259



1,186



771

   Depreciation


217



204



641



612

   Materials and other (note 1)


210



190



704



572

      Total railway operating expenses


1,951



1,710



5,962



5,090













       Income from railway operations


938



746



2,413



2,034













Other income - net


60



81



121



118

Interest expense on debt


114



113



339



347













      Income before income taxes


884



714



2,195



1,805













Provision for income taxes:












   Current


159



143



345



539

   Deferred


171



126



414



172

      Total income taxes (note 2)


330



269



759



711













       Net income

$

554


$

445


$

1,436


$

1,094













Earnings per share (note 3):












   Basic

$

1.61


$

1.21


$

4.09


$

2.95

   Diluted

$

1.59


$

1.19


$

4.03


$

2.91













Weighted average shares outstanding (note 4):












   Basic


343.2



366.3



349.8



368.5

   Diluted


349.0



371.6



355.6



373.8













See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.




Norfolk Southern Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)




September 30,


December 31,



2011


2010



($ in millions)

Assets







Current assets:







   Cash and cash equivalents


$

242


$

827

   Short-term investments



152



283

   Accounts receivable - net



1,029



807

   Materials and supplies



212



169

   Deferred income taxes



160



145

   Other current assets



30



240

      Total current assets



1,825



2,471








Investments



2,240



2,193








Properties less accumulated depreciation of $9,351 and







      $9,262, respectively



23,978



23,231








Other assets



268



304








       Total assets


$

28,311


$

28,199








Liabilities and stockholders' equity







Current liabilities:







   Accounts payable


$

1,329


$

1,181

   Short-term debt



-



100

   Income and other taxes



221



199

   Other current liabilities



331



244

   Current maturities of long-term debt



55



358

      Total current liabilities



1,936



2,082








Long-term debt



6,782



6,567








Other liabilities



1,788



1,793








Deferred income taxes



7,550



7,088

      Total liabilities



18,056



17,530








Stockholders' equity:







   Common stock $1.00 per share par value, 1,350,000,000 shares







      authorized; outstanding 336,106,217 and 357,362,604 shares,







      respectively, net of treasury shares



337



358

   Additional paid-in capital



1,912



1,892

   Accumulated other comprehensive loss



(753)



(805)

   Retained income



8,759



9,224

       Total stockholders' equity



10,255



10,669








       Total liabilities and stockholders' equity


$

28,311


$

28,199


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.




Norfolk Southern Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)





Nine Months Ended




September 30,




2011



2010




($ in millions)








Cash flows from operating activities:







   Net income


$

1,436


$

1,094

   Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided







      by operating activities:







         Depreciation



646



617

         Deferred income taxes



414



172

         Gains and losses on properties and investments



(30)



(38)

         Changes in assets and liabilities affecting operations:







            Accounts receivable



(222)



(142)

            Materials and supplies



(43)



(15)

            Other current assets



60



50

            Current liabilities other than debt



402



254

         Other - net



101



136

               Net cash provided by operating activities



2,764



2,128








Cash flows from investing activities:







   Property additions



(1,433)



(907)

   Property sales and other transactions



70



81

   Investments, including short-term



(88)



(441)

   Investment sales and other transactions



246



261

               Net cash used in investing activities



(1,205)



(1,006)








Cash flows from financing activities:







   Dividends



(432)



(384)

   Common stock issued - net



95



59

   Purchase and retirement of common stock (note 4)



(1,611)



(437)

   Proceeds from borrowings - net



396



250

   Debt repayments



(592)



(477)

               Net cash used in financing activities



(2,144)



(989)








               Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents



(585)



133








Cash and cash equivalents:







   At beginning of year



827



996








   At end of period


$

242


$

1,129








Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information







   Cash paid during the period for:







      Interest (net of amounts capitalized)


$

296


$

296

      Income taxes (net of refunds)


$

121


$

498








See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.




NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

1. MATERIALS AND OTHER    

      During the first quarter of 2011, NS received an unfavorable ruling for an arbitration claim with an insurance carrier that failed to respond to insurance claims submitted by NS, related to the January 6, 2005 derailment in Graniteville, SC.  As a result, NS recorded a $43 million expense for the receivables associated with the contested portion of the claim and a $15 million expense for other receivables affected by the ruling for which recovery is no longer probable.

2. INCOME TAXES

      During the second quarter of 2011, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) completed its examination of NS' 2008 tax return and review of certain claims for refund for prior years that resulted in a decrease in income tax expense of $40 million.  Also during the second quarter, three states enacted tax law changes that decreased deferred income tax expense by $19 million.

      During the first quarter of 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 were signed into law.  Provisions of the Acts eliminated, after 2012, the tax deduction available for reimbursed prescription drug expenses under the Medicare Part D retiree drug subsidy program.  Accordingly, NS recorded a $27 million charge to deferred tax expense in the first quarter of 2010.

3. EARNINGS PER SHARE

      For basic earnings per share, income available to common stockholders for the third quarters of 2011 and 2010 reflects $2 million each in reductions and $6 million for the first nine months of both 2011 and 2010 from net income for the effect of dividend equivalent payments made to holders of stock options and restricted stock units.

      For diluted earnings per share, income available to common stockholders reflects reductions of less than $1 million for the third quarter of 2011, $2 million for the third quarter of 2010, $2 million for the first nine months of 2011, and $6 million for the first nine months of 2010 for the effect of dividend equivalent payments made to holders of stock options.

4. STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM

      NS repurchased and retired 23.8 million shares of Common Stock in the first nine months of 2011, at a cost of $1.6 billion and 7.8 million shares at a cost of $437 million for the same period of 2010.  The timing and volume of purchases is guided by management's assessment of market conditions and other pertinent factors.  Any near-term share repurchases are expected to be made with internally generated cash, cash on hand, or proceeds from borrowings.  Since 2005, NS has repurchased and retired 103.2 million shares at a total cost of $5.7 billion.

SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation

For further information: Norfolk Southern contacts: (Media) Frank Brown, +1-757-629-2710, fsbrown@nscorp.com or (Investors), Michael Hostutler, +1-757-629-2861, michael.hostutler@nscorp.com