Norfolk Southern reports record-setting 2013 fourth-quarter and full-year results

Jan 22, 2014

NORFOLK, Va., Jan. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) reported record fourth-quarter 2013 net income of $513 million, or $1.64 per diluted share, 24 percent higher compared with $413 million, or $1.30 per diluted share, earned in the fourth quarter of 2012. The railway operating ratio, or operating expenses as a percentage of revenue, improved 5 percent to 69.4 percent.

Fourth-quarter 2013 records

Railway operating revenues totaled $2.9 billion, up 7 percent.
Income from railway operations was $881 million, 23 percent higher.
Net income totaled $513 million, up 24 percent.
Diluted earnings per share of $1.64 improved 26 percent.

2013 Records

Railway operating revenues reached $11.2 billion, up 2 percent.
Income from railway operations was $3.3 billion, 4 percent higher.
Net income totaled $1.9 billion, up 9 percent.
Diluted earnings per share of $6.04 improved 12 percent.
The railway operating ratio improved 1 percent to 71.0 percent.

"Norfolk Southern's team of safety and service-oriented employees drove our record-setting fourth-quarter results through increased productivity, efficient network operations, and continued revenue gains," said Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman. "We're seeing the results of our investments in network capacity and technology enhance our ability to offer superior service to all of our customers.

Moorman continued: "In 2014, we plan to invest $2.2 billion, a 12 percent increase over 2013, to maintain safe railway operations, purchase locomotives and freight cars, and support growth and productivity initiatives."

Fourth Quarter 2013 Summary

Operating revenues increased to $2.9 billion, marking a 7 percent jump compared with fourth-quarter 2012. Strong intermodal, chemical, automotive, and agricultural shipments more than offset declines in coal traffic to drive total volumes up 4 percent.

Fourth-quarter revenue by commodity group

Chemicals up 21 percent.
Metals and construction up 12 percent.
Intermodal up 6 percent.
Agriculture up 9 percent.
Automotive up 10 percent.
Paper and forest products up 8 percent.
Coal down 2 percent.

General merchandise revenues were $1.6 billion, 12 percent higher than the same period last year. Strong crude by rail shipments and expanded automotive production helped boost traffic volume by 8 percent in the quarter.

Coal revenues were $641 million, 2 percent lower compared with the fourth quarter of 2012, the result of an 8 percent decline in volumes.

Intermodal revenues increased to $618 million, a 6 percent increase over 2012. Growth in domestic and international business pushed traffic volume up 6 percent in the quarter compared with the same period of 2012.

Railway operating expenses were $2 billion, 2 percent higher than in the same period of 2012. The operating ratio was 69.4 percent, a 5 percent improvement over the same quarter in 2012. Income from railway operations was $881 million, 23 percent higher compared with fourth-quarter 2012.

2013 Summary

Net income was $1.9 billion, or $6.04 per diluted share, 9 percent higher compared with $1.7 billion or $5.37 per diluted share in 2012.
Railway operating revenues reached $11.2 million, 2 percent higher compared with 2012, driven by a 3 percent increase in traffic volume.
General merchandise revenues rose 7 percent, and traffic volume increased by 4 percent.
Coal revenues declined 12 percent to $2.5 billion, due to a 5 percent decline in traffic volume compared with the same period of 2012.
Intermodal revenues increased to $2.4 billion, up 6 percent compared with 2012. Growth in domestic and international intermodal business drove traffic volume 6 percent higher for 2013 compared with the same period of 2012.
Railway operating expenses were $8 billion, up 1 percent compared with 2012.
The operating ratio for the year was 71.0 percent, a 1 percent improvement over 2012.
Income from railway operations was $3.3 billion for 2013, 4 percent higher compared with 2012.

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, automotive, and industrial products.

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

	Fourth Quarter				Years ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2013		2012
	(in millions, except per share amounts)

Railway operating revenues
Coal	$	641	$	657	$	2,543	$	2,879
General merchandise		1,622		1,443		6,318		5,920
Intermodal		618		584		2,384		2,241
Total railway operating revenues		2,881		2,684		11,245		11,040

Railway operating expenses
Compensation and benefits		761		726		3,002		2,960
Purchased services and rents		406		418		1,629		1,604
Fuel		403		395		1,613		1,577
Depreciation		233		233		916		916
Materials and other		197		198		828		859
Total railway operating expenses		2,000		1,970		7,988		7,916

Income from railway operations		881		714		3,257		3,124

Other income – net (note 1)		39		36		233		129
Interest expense on debt		137		129		525		495

Income before income taxes		783		621		2,965		2,758

Provision for income taxes
Current		223		121		793		643
Deferred		47		87		262		366
Total income taxes		270		208		1,055		1,009

Net income	$	513	$	413	$	1,910	$	1,749

Earnings per share (notes 1 & 2)
Basic	$	1.66	$	1.31	$	6.10	$	5.42
Diluted		1.64		1.30		6.04		5.37

Weighted average shares outstanding (note 3)
Basic		308.7		314.8		311.9		320.9
Diluted		312.3		318.6		315.5		325.2

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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

	Fourth Quarter				Years ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2013		2012
	($ in millions)

Net income	$	513	$	413	$	1,910	$	1,749
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Pension and other postretirement benefits		1,012		(211)		1,122		(114)
Other comprehensive income (loss) of equity investees		40		(9)		42		(13)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax		1,052		(220)		1,164		(127)
Income tax benefit (expense) related to items of other
comprehensive income (loss)		(393)		82		(436)		44
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		659		(138)		728		(83)

Total comprehensive income	$	1,172	$	275	$	2,638	$	1,666

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Norfolk Southern Corporation and Subsidiaries Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

	December 31,			December 31,
	2013			2012
	($ in millions)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	1,443		$	653
Short-term investments			118			15
Accounts receivable - net			1,024			1,109
Materials and supplies			223			216
Deferred income taxes			180			167
Other current assets			87			82
Total current assets			3,075			2,242

Investments			2,439			2,300
Properties less accumulated depreciation of $10,387 and
$9,922, respectively			26,645			25,736
Other assets			324			64

Total assets		$	32,483		$	30,342

Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	1,265		$	1,362
Short-term debt			100			200
Income and other taxes			225			206
Other current liabilities			270			263
Current maturities of long-term debt			445			50
Total current liabilities			2,305			2,081

Long-term debt			8,903			8,432
Other liabilities			1,444			2,237
Deferred income taxes			8,542			7,832
Total liabilities			21,194			20,582

Stockholders' equity:
Common stock $1.00 per share par value, 1,350,000,000 shares
authorized; outstanding 308,878,402 and 314,034,174 shares,
respectively, net of treasury shares			310			315
Additional paid-in capital			2,021			1,911
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(381)			(1,109)
Retained income			9,339			8,643

Total stockholders' equity			11,289			9,760

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	32,483		$	30,342

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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

	Years ended December 31,
	2013		2012
	($ in millions)
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$	1,910	$	1,749
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation		922		922
Deferred income taxes		262		366
Gains and losses on properties and investments (note 1)		(104)		(6)
Changes in assets and liabilities affecting operations:
Accounts receivable		85		(64)
Materials and supplies		(7)		(7)
Other current assets		(5)		(6)
Current liabilities other than debt		5		82
Other – net		10		29
Net cash provided by operating activities		3,078		3,065

Cash flows from investing activities
Property additions		(1,971)		(2,241)
Property sales and other transactions		144		192
Investments, including short-term		(130)		(23)
Investment sales and other transactions		63		78
Net cash used in investing activities		(1,894)		(1,994)

Cash flows from financing activities
Dividends		(637)		(624)
Common stock issued – net		131		89
Purchase and retirement of common stock (note 3)		(627)		(1,288)
Proceeds from borrowings – net		989		1,491
Debt repayments		(250)		(362)
Net cash used in financing activities		(394)		(694)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		790		377

Cash and cash equivalents
At beginning of year		653		276

At end of year	$	1,443	$	653

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest (net of amounts capitalized)	$	492	$	473
Income taxes (net of refunds)		735		618

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 fourth quarter, $2 million in both 2013 and 2012; and for the year, $7 million in 2013 and $9 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 fourth quarter, $1 million in 2013 and 2012; and for the year, $4 million in 2013 and 2012.

3. Stock Repurchase Program
We repurchased and retired 8.3 million shares of common stock in 2013, at a cost of $627 million, and 18.8 million shares at a cost of $1.3 billion in 2012. We have remaining authorization from our Board of Directors to repurchase up to 38.3 million shares 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 136.7 million shares at a total cost of $8.1 billion

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