Norfolk Southern Reports Second-Quarter 2011 Results

Jul 27, 2011

NORFOLK, Va., July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) today reported record second-quarter net income of $557 million, 42 percent higher compared with $392 million during the same quarter of 2010. Diluted earnings per share were a record $1.56, up 50 percent compared with $1.04 per diluted share earned in the same period last year. These results reflect favorable, non-recurring income tax-related benefits totaling $63 million, or $0.18 per share.

"Norfolk Southern delivered excellent financial results in the second quarter, setting all-time records for net income and earnings per share, as well as second-quarter records for revenues, operating income and operating ratio," said CEO Wick Moorman. "We're seeing opportunities in the global economy, and we are moving forward with initiatives to drive business growth, productivity, and efficiency across our company."

Railway operating revenues increased to $2.9 billion, a second-quarter record, up 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 second-quarter 2010 results. Coal revenues increased 28 percent to $893 million compared with the same period last year. Intermodal revenues were $540 million, 20 percent higher compared with the second quarter of 2010.

Railway operating expenses for the quarter were $2.0 billion, 17 percent higher compared with the same period of 2010, primarily due to increased fuel expenses and compensation and benefits costs.

Income from railway operations set a second-quarter record, climbing 19 percent to $875 million compared with the same period last year.

The railway operating ratio improved to 69.5 percent, a second-quarter record, compared with 69.8 percent during second-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				Six Months Ended
		June 30,				June 30,
		2011		2010		2011		2010
		(in millions, except per share amounts)

Railway operating revenues:
Coal	$	893	$	696	$	1,709	$	1,325
General merchandise		1,433		1,283		2,752		2,482
Intermodal		540		451		1,025		861
Total railway operating revenues		2,866		2,430		5,486		4,668

Railway operating expenses:
Compensation and benefits		739		670		1,504		1,369
Purchased services and rents		405		374		788		709
Fuel		412		258		801		512
Depreciation		213		204		424		408
Materials and other (note 1)		222		191		494		382
Total railway operating expenses		1,991		1,697		4,011		3,380

Income from railway operations		875		733		1,475		1,288

Other income - net		34		17		61		37
Interest expense on debt		113		115		225		234

Income before income taxes		796		635		1,311		1,091

Provision for income taxes:
Current		108		237		186		396
Deferred		131		6		243		46
Total income taxes (note 2)		239		243		429		442

Net income	$	557	$	392	$	882	$	649

Earnings per share (note 3):
Basic	$	1.58	$	1.06	$	2.49	$	1.74
Diluted	$	1.56	$	1.04	$	2.45	$	1.72

Weighted average shares outstanding (notes 3 & 4):
Basic		351.0		369.7		353.1		369.6
Diluted		357.3		375.1		358.9		375.0

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Norfolk Southern Corporation and Subsidiaries Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

	June 30,		December 31,
	2011		2010
	($ in millions)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	678	$	827
Short-term investments		228		283
Accounts receivable - net		991		807
Materials and supplies		201		169
Deferred income taxes		163		145
Other current assets		54		240
Total current assets		2,315		2,471

Investments		2,235		2,193

Properties less accumulated depreciation of $9,217 and
$9,262, respectively		23,671		23,231

Other assets		257		304

Total assets	$	28,478	$	28,199

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	1,254	$	1,181
Short-term debt		-		100
Income and other taxes		160		199
Other current liabilities		284		244
Current maturities of long-term debt		55		358
Total current liabilities		1,753		2,082

Long-term debt		6,931		6,567

Other liabilities		1,795		1,793

Deferred income taxes		7,372		7,088
Total liabilities		17,851		17,530

Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock $1.00 per share par value, 1,350,000,000 shares
authorized; outstanding 347,773,580 and 357,362,604 shares,
respectively, net of treasury shares		349		358
Additional paid-in capital		1,951		1,892
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(770)		(805)
Retained income		9,097		9,224
Total stockholders’ equity		10,627		10,669

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	28,478	$	28,199

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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

		Six Months Ended
		June 30,
		2011		2010
		($ in millions)

Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	882	$	649
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided
by operating activities:
Depreciation		428		411
Deferred income taxes		243		46
Gains and losses on properties and investments		-		(3)
Changes in assets and liabilities affecting operations:
Accounts receivable		(184)		(126)
Materials and supplies		(32)		(15)
Other current assets		36		36
Current liabilities other than debt		221		236
Other - net		106		148
Net cash provided by operating activities		1,700		1,382

Cash flows from investing activities:
Property additions		(888)		(569)
Property sales and other transactions		20		21
Investments, including short-term		(67)		(260)
Investment sales and other transactions		134		77
Net cash used in investing activities		(801)		(731)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends		(283)		(252)
Common stock issued - net		69		42
Purchase and retirement of common stock (note 4)		(792)		(114)
Proceeds from borrowings - net		396		-
Debt repayments		(438)		(468)
Net cash used in financing activities		(1,048)		(792)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(149)		(141)

Cash and cash equivalents:
At beginning of year		827		996

At end of period	$	678	$	855

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest (net of amounts capitalized)	$	219	$	232
Income taxes (net of refunds)	$	45	$	253

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 first and second quarters of 2011 and 2010 reflects $2 million each in reductions 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 $2 million for the first quarter of 2011, less than $1 million for the second quarter of 2011, $2 million for both the first and second quarters of 2010, $2 million for the first six months of 2011, and $4 million for the first six months of 2010 for the effect of dividend equivalent payments made to holders of stock options.

4. STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM

NS repurchased and retired 11.6 million shares of Common Stock in the first six months of 2011, at a cost of $792 million and 2.0 million shares at a cost of $114 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 91.0 million shares at a total cost of $4.9 billion.

SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation