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Norfolk Southern Reports First-Quarter 2009 Results

Posted on: Tuesday, 21 April 2009, 16:00 CDT

For first-quarter 2009:

* Railway operating revenues were $1.9 billion.

* Income from railway operations was $383 million.

* Net income was $177 million.

* Diluted earnings per share were $0.47.

* The railway operating ratio was 80.3 percent.

NORFOLK, Va., April 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- For the first quarter of 2009, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) reported net income of $177 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, compared with $291 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2008.

"Current economic conditions were clearly reflected in Norfolk Southern's first-quarter results," said Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman. "We are responding by aggressively controlling costs, while enhancing our service and continuing to invest in projects that will drive future growth. This approach will position us to participate in the economy's eventual recovery as we tightly manage the company in the face of an ongoing reduction in railway traffic volumes."

First-quarter railway operating revenues were $1.9 billion, down 22 percent, compared with the first-quarter of 2008, primarily as the result of a 20 percent reduction in traffic volume and lower fuel-related revenues.

General merchandise revenues were $975 million, 28 percent lower compared with the same period last year. Coal revenues declined 9 percent to $602 million compared with first-quarter 2008 results. Intermodal revenues decreased 25 percent to $366 million compared with the first quarter of last year.

Railway operating expenses for the quarter were $1.6 billion, a decrease of 19 percent over the same period of 2008.

The railway operating ratio was 80.3 percent, compared with 76.9 percent during first-quarter 2008.

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serving every major container port in the eastern United States and providing superior connections to western rail carriers. NS operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is North America's largest rail carrier of metals and automotive products.

Norfolk Southern Corporation and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2009 2008 ($in millions, except earnings per share) Railway operating revenues: Coal $602 $662 General merchandise 975 1,352 Intermodal 366 486 Total railway operating revenues 1,943 2,500 Railway operating expenses: Compensation and benefits 639 705 Purchased services and rents 355 375 Fuel 159 404 Depreciation 207 198 Materials and other 200 240 Total railway operating expenses 1,560 1,922 Income from railway operations 383 578 Other income - net 17 7 Interest expense on debt 117 109 Income before income taxes 283 476 Provision for income taxes Current 90 160 Deferred 16 25 Total income taxes 106 185 Net income $177 $291 Earnings per share (note 1): Basic $0.48 $0.77 Diluted $0.47 $0.76 Weighted average shares outstanding (millions) (notes 1 & 2): Basic 366.2 375.7 Diluted 371.1 383.9 See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Norfolk Southern Corporation and Subsidiaries Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) March 31, December 31, 2009 2008 ($in millions) Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $884 $618 Accounts receivable - net 831 870 Materials and supplies 191 194 Deferred income taxes 161 149 Other current assets 127 168 Total current assets 2,194 1,999 Investments 1,806 1,779 Properties less accumulated depreciation 22,292 22,247 Other assets 254 272 Total assets $26,546 $26,297 Liabilities and stockholders' equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable $952 $1,140 Income and other taxes 311 261 Other current liabilities 287 220 Current maturities of long-term debt 468 484 Total current liabilities 2,018 2,105 Long-term debt 6,467 6,183 Other liabilities 1,945 2,030 Deferred income taxes 6,406 6,372 Total liabilities 16,836 16,690 Stockholders' equity: Common stock $1.00 per share par value, 1,350,000,000 shares authorized; outstanding 367,037,849 and 366,233,106 shares, respectively, net of treasury shares 369 368 Additional paid-in capital 1,723 1,680 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (933) (942) Retained income 8,551 8,501 Total stockholders' equity 9,710 9,607 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $26,546 $26,297 See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Norfolk Southern Corporation and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2009 2008 ($in millions) Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $177 $291 Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation 209 200 Deferred income taxes 16 25 Gains and losses on properties and investments (2) (5) Changes in assets and liabilities affecting operations: Accounts receivable 39 (37) Materials and supplies 3 (18) Other current assets 35 30 Current liabilities other than debt (107) 75 Other - net (16) 43 Net cash provided by operating activities 354 604 Cash flows from investing activities: Property additions (243) (304) Property sales and other transactions 1 3 Investment sales and other transactions (2) 54 Net cash used in investing activities (244) (247) Cash flows from financing activities: Dividends (125) (109) Common stock issued - net 6 71 Purchase and retirement of common stock (note 2) -- (276) Proceeds from borrowings 500 525 Debt repayments (225) (410) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 156 (199) Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 266 158 Cash and cash equivalents: At beginning of year 618 206 At end of period $884 $364 Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information Cash paid during the period for: Interest (net of amounts capitalized) $49 $54 Income taxes (net of refunds) $23 $7 See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

1. EARNINGS PER SHARE

In the first quarter of 2009, NS adopted the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Staff Position (FSP) EITF No. 03-6-1, "Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions are Participating Securities," which requires the treatment of unvested stock options receiving dividend equivalents as participating securities in computing earnings per share under the two-class method. NS has retrospectively applied the provisions of this FSP. Accordingly, for basic earnings per share, income available to common stockholders for both 2009 and 2008 reflects a $2 million reduction from net income for the effect of dividend equivalent payments made to holders of stock options. In addition, for the first quarter 2009, diluted earnings per share was calculated under the more dilutive two-class method (as compared to the treasury stock method) and income available to common stockholders reflects a $2 million reduction from net income for dividend equivalent payments.

2. Stock Repurchase Program

In March 2007, NS' Board of Directors amended the stock repurchase program that was authorized in November 2005 so as to increase the number of shares of NS common stock that may be repurchased from 50 million to 75 million. In addition, the term of the program was shortened from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2010. During the first three months of 2009, NS did not repurchase any shares of common stock. Since inception of the stock repurchase program in 2006, NS has repurchased and retired 64.7 million shares at a total cost of $3.3 billion.

SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation


Source: PR Newswire

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