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Norfolk Southern reports third-quarter 2013 earnings

NORFOLK, Va., Oct. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

For 2013 vs. 2012

  • Railway operating revenues increased 5 percent to $2.8 billion.
  • Income from railway operations was $849 million, up 16 percent.
  • Net income increased 20 percent to $482 million.
  • Diluted earnings per share were $1.53, up 23 percent.
  • The railway operating ratio improved 3 percentage points to 69.9 percent.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) reported third-quarter net income of $482 million, 20 percent higher than $402 million for the same period of 2012. Diluted earnings per share were $1.53, up 23 percent compared with $1.24 per diluted share in the third quarter last year.

"Norfolk Southern delivered strong results, led by growth in our chemicals, metals/construction, intermodal, and automotive businesses, combined with ongoing productivity improvements," said CEO Wick Moorman. "Even in the face of continuing weakness in the coal markets, our focus on service efficiency and velocity allowed us to provide superior performance for our customers and excellent results for our shareholders."

Railway operating revenues were $2.8 billion, 5 percent higher compared with third-quarter 2012, with shipment volumes increasing 4 percent.

For the third quarter, general merchandise revenues were $1.6 billion, 11 percent higher compared with the third quarter of 2012, primarily as a result of a 6 percent growth in shipments.

Coal revenues were $641 million, 9 percent lower compared with the third quarter last year, due to lower average revenue per unit and a 2 percent decline in volumes.

Intermodal revenues were $605 million, a 7 percent increase compared with third-quarter 2012. Volumes increased 5 percent due to continued domestic and international growth.

Railway operating expenses for the third quarter totaled $2.0 billion, 1 percent higher compared with the same period of 2012.

Income from railway operations for the third quarter was $849 million, 16 percent higher compared with the same period last year.

The railway operating ratio for the third quarter improved 3 percentage points to 69.9 percent compared with 72.9 percent in the same quarter last year.

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway Company 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, automotive, and industrial products.

 

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

 
 

Third Quarter

 

First Nine Months

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

(in millions, except per share amounts)

                       

Railway operating revenues

                     

Coal

$

641

 

$

701

 

$

1,902

 

$

2,222

General merchandise

 

1,578

   

1,425

   

4,696

   

4,477

Intermodal

 

605

   

567

   

1,766

   

1,657

Total railway operating revenues

 

2,824

   

2,693

   

8,364

   

8,356

                       

Railway operating expenses

                     

Compensation and benefits

 

735

   

724

   

2,241

   

2,234

Purchased services and rents

 

420

   

403

   

1,223

   

1,186

Fuel

 

390

   

379

   

1,210

   

1,182

Depreciation

 

230

   

230

   

683

   

683

Materials and other

 

200

   

226

   

631

   

661

Total railway operating expenses

 

1,975

   

1,962

   

5,988

   

5,946

                       

Income from railway operations

 

849

   

731

   

2,376

   

2,410

                       

Other income – net (note 1)

 

30

   

33

   

194

   

93

Interest expense on debt

 

131

   

124

   

388

   

366

                       

Income before income taxes

 

748

   

640

   

2,182

   

2,137

                       

Provision for income taxes

                     

Current

 

194

   

97

   

570

   

522

Deferred

 

72

   

141

   

215

   

279

Total income taxes

 

266

   

238

   

785

   

801

                       

Net income

$

482

 

$

402

 

$

1,397

 

$

1,336

                       

Earnings per share (notes 1 & 2)

                     

Basic

$

1.55

 

$

1.26

 

$

4.45

 

$

4.12

Diluted

 

1.53

   

1.24

   

4.40

   

4.07

                       

Weighted average shares outstanding (note 3)   

                     

Basic

 

310.4

   

317.7

   

313.0

   

322.9

Diluted

 

313.9

   

321.8

   

316.6

   

327.4

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

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

 
 

Third Quarter

 

First Nine Months

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

($ in millions)

                       

Net income

$

482

 

$

402

 

$

1,397

 

$

1,336

Other comprehensive income, before tax:

                     

Pension and other postretirement benefits

 

38

   

33

   

110

   

97

Other comprehensive income (loss) of equity  

investees

 

-

   

-

   

2

   

(4)

Other comprehensive income, before tax

 

38

   

33

   

112

   

93

Income tax expense related to items of other   

                     

comprehensive income

 

(15)

   

(13)

   

(43)

   

(38)

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

23

   

20

   

69

   

55

                       

Total comprehensive income

$

505

 

$

422

 

$

1,466

 

$

1,391

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

Norfolk Southern Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)

 
 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

2013

 

2012

 

($ in millions)

Assets

             

Current assets:

             

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

984

   

$

653

Short-term investments

   

20

     

15

Accounts receivable - net

   

1,083

     

1,109

Materials and supplies

   

224

     

216

Deferred income taxes

   

149

     

167

Other current assets

   

34

     

82

Total current assets

   

2,494

     

2,242

               

Investments

   

2,395

     

2,300

Properties less accumulated depreciation of $10,271 and

             

$9,922, respectively

   

26,413

     

25,736

Other assets

   

63

     

64

               

Total assets

 

$

31,365

   

$

30,342

               

Liabilities and stockholders' equity

             

Current liabilities:

             

Accounts payable

 

$

1,267

   

$

1,362

Short-term debt

   

-

     

200

Income and other taxes

   

241

     

206

Other current liabilities

   

377

     

263

Current maturities of long-term debt

   

447

     

50

Total current liabilities

   

2,332

     

2,081

               

Long-term debt

   

8,499

     

8,432

Other liabilities

   

2,166

     

2,237

Deferred income taxes

   

8,074

     

7,832

Total liabilities

   

21,071

     

20,582

               

Stockholders' equity:

             

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

             

authorized; outstanding 308,910,329 and 314,034,174 shares,

             

respectively, net of treasury shares

   

310

     

315

Additional paid-in capital

   

1,979

     

1,911

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

   

(1,040)

     

(1,109)

Retained income

   

9,045

     

8,643

               

Total stockholders' equity

   

10,294

     

9,760

               

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

 

$

31,365

   

$

30,342

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

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

 
 

First Nine Months

 

2013

 

2012

 

($ in millions)

Cash flows from operating activities

         

Net income

$

1,397

 

$

1,336

Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:  

         

Depreciation

 

687

   

688

Deferred income taxes

 

215

   

279

Gains and losses on properties and investments (note 1)

 

(100)

   

(4)

Changes in assets and liabilities affecting operations:

         

Accounts receivable

 

26

   

(56)

Materials and supplies

 

(8)

   

(27)

Other current assets

 

48

   

43

Current liabilities other than debt

 

121

   

183

Other – net

 

18

   

34

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

2,404

   

2,476

           

Cash flows from investing activities

         

Property additions

 

(1,470)

   

(1,522)

Property sales and other transactions

 

109

   

47

Investments, including short-term

 

(29)

   

(14)

Investment sales and other transactions

 

21

   

37

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(1,369)

   

(1,452)

           

Cash flows from financing activities

         

Dividends

 

(476)

   

(467)

Common stock issued – net

 

92

   

77

Purchase and retirement of common stock (note 3)

 

(564)

   

(1,150)

Proceeds from borrowings – net

 

492

   

1,291

Debt repayments

 

(248)

   

(358)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(704)

   

(607)

           

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

331

   

417

           

Cash and cash equivalents

         

At beginning of period

 

653

   

276

           

At end of period

$

984

 

$

693

           

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information

         

Cash paid during the period for:

         

Interest (net of amounts capitalized)

$

305

 

$

297

Income taxes (net of refunds)

 

485

   

536

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

 

1. Other Income — Net    
          In first quarter 2013, we recognized a $97 million gain on a land sale, which increased net income by 
    $60 million or $0.19 per share.

 

2. Earnings Per Share
          For basic earnings per share, income available to common stockholders reflects reductions for the
    effect of dividend equivalent payments made to holders of stock options and restricted stock units as follows: 
    for the third quarter, $2 million in 2013 and $3 million in 2012; and for the first nine months, $5 million in 2013
    and $7 million in 2012.      
          For diluted earnings per share, income available to common stockholders reflects reductions for the
    effect of dividend equivalent payments made to holders of stock options and restricted stock units as follows: 
    for the third quarter, $1 million in both 2013 and 2012; and for the first nine months, $3 million in both 2013
    and 2012.

 

3. Stock Repurchase Program
          We repurchased and retired 7.5 million shares of common stock in the first nine months of 2013, at a cost
    of $564 million, and 16.5 million shares at a cost of $1.2 billion for the same period of 2012.  On August 1, 2012,
    our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional 50 million shares of common stock
    through December 31, 2017.  The timing and volume of purchases is guided by our 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 the beginning of 2006, we
    have repurchased and retired 135.9 million shares at a total cost of $8.1 billion.

 

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SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation

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